V 


r» 


BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


BOMBARDMENT  OF  WRANGEL,  ALASKA. 


No.  3. — THE   WIDOW  OF    SKILLAT,   THE  FOKMKR  CHIEF'S  HOUSE  AT 

AVitAXUKL,  ALASKA. 


REPORT  OF  THE  SECRETARY  OF  WAR, 

SECRETARY  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

AND 

LETTER  TO  THE  PRESIDENT, 

By  VINCENT   COT/VER, 

Secretary  of  ./>'.•></,•  v/  of  Indian  Commissioners. 


WASHINGTON: 

1870. 


BOMBARDMENT  OF  WRANGEL,  ALASKA. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Board  of  Indian  Commissioners, 
March  31,   1870. 

.'SiR  :  I  am  directed  by  the  Board  of  Indian  Commissioners  to 
call  youn  attention  to  the  recent  bombardment  of  the  Indian  village 
at  Wrangel,  Alaska,  by  the  United  States  troops  located  at  that 
post. 

By  referring  to  the  two  official  reports,  herewith  accompanying, 
from  the  Wai" and  Interior  Departments,  called  for  by  resolution  of 
the  United  States  Senate,  March  14th,  1870,  you  will  see  that  the 
village  was  made  up  of  well  constructed  habitations,  costing  the  in 
habitants  years  of  hard  labor  to  build  with  their  primitive  tools ; 
ornamented  with  carving  in  woo-d  of  most  singular  and  elaborate 
workmanship ;  painted  with  curious  imagery,  and  provided  outside 
and  in  with  many  of  the  conveniences  of  civilized  life 

The  testimony  of  Leon  Smith,  the  post  trader,  who  was  killed,  Win. 
Wall  and  others,  shows  that  these,  Indians  were  perfectly  peaceable 
and  "well  disposed  towards  the  whites,"  honest,  industrious,  always 
anxious  to  get  employment,"  and  "suseeptable  of  a  high  standard 
of  cultivation."  I  visited  their  cabins  and  can  endorse  the  above 
statements  of  the  white  residents  of  the  village. 

They  entertained  with  great  delight  my  proposition  to  establish 
an  industrial  school  among  them,  arranged  enthusiastically  for  its 
location,  and  engaged  to  aid  in  the  erection  of  the  school  building. 

This  village,  containing  a  population  of  five  hundred  and  eight 
souls,  of  whom  three  hundred  and  forty  were  women  and  children, 
was  cannonaded  with  both  solid  shot  and  shell  continuously  from  2 
o'clock  till  dark  of  one  afternoon,  and  resumed  the  next  morning  at 
daybreak — continuing  we  know  not  how  long — until  these  helpless 
people  begged  for  -mercy. 

The  military  reports  show  that  this  bombardment  was  the  result 
of  a  wanton  and  unjustifiable  killing  of  an  Indian  named  Si-wau  by 
Lieutenant  Loucks,  the  second  officer  in  command  of  the  Post. 

This  Indian,  who  was  intoxicated,  had  severely  bitten  a  woman's 
finger.  The  arrest  of  such  a  man  as  this  is  any  day  effected  by 
two  or  three  ordinary  policemen  in  our  cities  with  perfect  «ase  and 
quietness.  Instead  of  this,  Lieutenant  Loucks,  with  twenty  armed 
soldiers,  went  to  his  house  at  midnight,  placed  eight  men  outside  of 
the  door,  took  twelve  in  with  him,  and,  though  he  found  only  two 


2     BOMBARDMENT    OF    INDIAN    VILLAGE    AT    WRANGEL,  ALASKA. 

drunken  Indians  with  their  wives  in  the  cabin,  (he  says  "  perhaps 
there  may  have  been  some  others,"  he  only  guesses  at  that,)  he  de 
liberately  arranges  his  twelve  soldiers  in  single  file,  gives  them 
orders  to  fire  when  he  shall  raise  his  hand,  and  then,  after  Home  un 
important  demonstrations,  he  says : 

"  Still  wishing  to  avoid  loss  of  life  if  possible,  I  tried  to  give  him 
two  or  three  sabre  cuts  over  the  head  to  stun  without  killing  him. 
In  doing  this  I  had  given  the  preconcerted  signal  (by  raising  my 
hand)  to  fire.  I  should  judge  about  six  or  eight  shots  were  fired 
during  the  melee,  and  only  ceasing  by  the  Indian  Si-wau  falling  at 
the  feet  of  the  detachment  dead." 

The  effect  of  this  firing  by  the  soldiers  was  to  arouse  the  whole 
Indian  village,  and,  in  about  an  hour  after  it  occurred,  a  white  man 
named  Leon  Smith  was  shot  by  a  cousin  of  Si-wau  in  retaliation  for 
the  killing  of  his  relative,  and  it  was  for 'the  death  of  this  Mr.  Leon 
Smith,  though  caused,  as  we  have  seen,  by  an  officer's  own  cruelty, 
that  the  Post  Commandant,  Lieutenant  Borrows,  ordered  the  bom 
bardment  of  the  entire  Indian  village,  with  its  three  hundred  and 
forty  women  and  children,  in  the  middle  of  winter. 

The  report  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  on  page  7,  show 
abuses  practised  on  these  Indians  which,  being  allowed  to  go  unpun 
ished,  would  naturally  lead  to  disastrous  results,  and  on  page  10  the 
Reverend  Wm.  Duncan,  the  most  successful  missionary  among  the 
Indians  in  British  Columbia  near  Wrangel,  says : 

"  Military  rule  among  Indians,  while  heathen,  is,  I  feel  sure,  a 
fatal  mistake.  It  will  only  breed  the  troubles  it  was  intended  to 
check.  (The  blood  of  poor  Captain  Smith,  lately  shot  at  Fort  Wran 
gel,  lies,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  at  the  door  of  military  authority  there,) 
while  both  Indian  and  soldier  are  reciprocating  their  vices,  and  both 
being  plunged  into  utter  ruin.  The  accounts  I  have  received  from 
time  to  time  of  the  conduct  of  the  soldiers  in  the  Indian  camps  of 
the  coast  of  Alaska  are  truly  shocking.  If  the  United  States  gov 
ernment  did  but  know  half,  1  am,  sure  they  would  shrink  from  being 
identified  with  sucn  abominations,  and  the  cause  of  so  much  misery. " 

Very  respectfully,  votir  obedient  servant, 

VINCENT  COLTER, 

Secretary. 
To  THE  PRESIDENT. 


BOARD  OF  INDIAN  COMMISSIONERS: 

FELIX  R.  BRUNOT,  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  Chairman. 
ROBERT  CAMPBELL,  St.  Louis,        HENRY  S.  LANE,  Indiana, 
NATHAN  BISHOP,  New  York,          GEORGE  S.  STUART,  Philadelphia. 
WILLIAM  E.  DODGE,  New  York,     EDWARD  S.  TOBEY,  Boston, 
JOHN  V.  FARWELL,  Chicago,          JOHN  D.  LANG,  Maine, 
VINCENT  COLYER,  New  York,  Secretary. 


41ST  CONGRESS,  \  SENATE.  i  Ex.  Doo. 

2d  Session.       f  \    No.  07. 


LETTER 

OF 

I         THE    SECRETARY    OF    ¥AR 

COMMUNICATING. 

In  compliance  with  a  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  the  l&h  instant,  the  report 
of  the  commander  of  the  department  of  Alaska  upon  the  late  bombardment 
of  the  Indian  village  at  Wrangel)  in  that  Territory. 


MARCH  21,1870. — Referred  to  the  Committee  on  Military  Affairs  and  ordered  to  be 

printed. 


WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

March  19,  1870. 

The  Secretary  of  War  lias  the  honor  to  submit  to  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States,  in  obedience  to  the  resolution  of  March  14,  1870,  the 
accompanying  report  of  the  commander  of  the  department  of  Alaska 
upon  the  late  bombardment  of  the  Indian  village  at  Wrangel,  in  the 
Territory  of  Alaska. 

WM.  W.  BELKNAP, 

Secretary  of  War. 


HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  ALASKA, 

Steamer  Nticbern,  January  18,  1870. 

GENERAL:  Since  my  last  communication  with  the  Headquarters  Mili 
tary  Division  of  the  Pacific,  the  following  difficulties  with  the  Indians 
have  occurred,  which  I  think  should  be  specially  reported.  On  the  morn 
ing  of  the.  16th  ultimo  Policeman  J.  0  Parker,  of  the  village  of  Sitka, 
shot  an  Indian  under  circumstances  which  1  thought  unjustifiable,  and 
ordered  his  immediate  arrest.  In  order  to  get  at  all  the  facts  of  the  case, 
I  ordered  a  board  of  officers  to  assemble  and  investigate  it  thoroughly. 
The  board,  after  taking  all  the  testimony  bearing  on  the  case,  pro 
nounced  the  shooting  unjustifiable,  and  I  ordered  Parker  to  be  kept  in 
confinement  until  snub,  time  as  a  competent  court  might  demand  him  for 
trial,  or  his  release  be  ordered  by  proper  authority.  This  is  the  second 
Indian  Parker  has  killed  within  the  past  year.  The  killing  in  bath  cases 
was  pronounced  unjustifiable  by  the  board  of  officers  who  investigated 
them. 

The  next  affair  I  desire  to  mention  occurred  at  Fort  Wrangel  on  Christ 
inas  day.  The  official  reports  of  Lieutenants  Borrowe  and  Loucks,  here 
with  transmitted,  describe  the  commencement  of  this  disturbance  so 
minutely,  and,  the  course  taken  by  them  to  put  it  down,  that  I  deem  it 
unnecessary  to  make  any  lengthy  report  upon  the  subject.  While  at 


2       BOMBARDMENT    OF    INDIAN    VILLAGE    AT    WRANGEL,  ALASKA. 

Fort  Wrangel  I  called  the  principal  chiefs  of  the  tribe  together  and  held 
a  talk  with  them.  Their  version  of  the  affair  agreed  in  all  essential 
points  with  the  reports  of  the  officers.  They  express  themselves  satisfied 
with  the  settlement  of  it,  and  say  they  will  continue  peaceable.  Alter  a 
very  thorough  investigation  of  the  whole  affair,  I  am  satisfied  Lieuten 
ant  Borrowe  acted  with  promptness  and  good  judgment;  a  less  decided 
course  would  probably  not  have  settled  it  with  as  little  bloodshed  as  the 
one  pursued.  I  anticipate  no  further  trouble  with  this  tribe  for  some 
time  to  come. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  state  that  in  my  opinion  the  chief  cause  of  this 
affair  was  the  sale  of  liquor  to  some  of  the  Indians  by  two  white  men 
professing  to  be  miners  living  .at  the  post.  These  men  procured  the 
liquor  under  pretext  of  its  being  for  their  own  use.  The  Indian  Siwan, 
who  bit  off  the  laundress's  finger,  and  who,  with  his  brother,  resisted 
the  guards  sent  to  arrest  him,  was  drunk;  their  women  were  also  intoxi 
cated.  The  Indian  Scutd-doo,  who  shot  Mr.  Smith,  was  more  or  less 
under  the  influence  of  liquor.  The  white  men  have  been  arrested,  and 
are  now  in  confinement. 

I  am,  general,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JEFF.  C.  DAVIS, 
Brevet  Major  General  Commanding. 
Brevet  Maj.  Gen.  WM.  D.  WHIPPLE, 

Ass't  Adj.  Gen'l,  Headquarters  Mil.  Div.  of  the  Pacific. 

HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  PACIFIC, 

San  Francisco,  February  8,  1870. 
Respectfully  forwarded  to  the  Adjutant  General. 

GEO.  H.  THOMAS, 
Major  General  U.  S.  A.  Commanding. 
Official: 

E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 

Adjutant  General. 


HEADQUARTERS  FORT  WRANGEL, 

Wrangel  Island,  A.  T.,  December  30,  1869. 

CAPTAIN  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  for  the 
information  of  the  major  general  commanding  the  department: 

About  ten  minutes  after  11  o'clock  on  the  night  of  December  25, 1869, 
it  was  reported  to  me  that  one  of  the  laundresses,  Mrs.  Jacob  Muller, 
had  been  badly  injured  by  a  Stickine  Indian,  named  Lowau,  he  having, 
while  in  her  house,  just  outside  of  the  stockade,  and  in  the  act  of  shak 
ing  hands  with  her,  bitten  off  the  third  finger  of  her  right  hand  between 
the  first  and  second  joints,  her  husband,  quartermaster  sergeant  of  this 
battery,  and  a  citizen,  named  Campbell,  being  present  at  the  time. 
Learning  what  had  taken  place,  and  that  the  Indian  had  escaped  to  the 
ranch,  notwithstanding  the  efforts  of  the  sergeant  to  arrest  him,  I  im 
mediately  sent  Lieutenant  Loucks  with  a  detachment  of  twenty  men  to 
take  him,  with  instructions  to  bring  him  in,  if  possible,  without  blood 
shed,  and  only  to  use  their  arms  in  case  of  resistance  or  in  self-defense. 
Lieutenant  Loucks  immediately  proceeded  to  execute  the  order  given 
him,  and  returned,  bringing  with  him  the  dead  body  of  the  Indian  Lowan 
and  his  brother  Estone,  the  latter  being  badly  wounded  in  the  arm,  the 
cause  of  violent  measures  having  been  resorted  to.  The  report  of  Lieu 
tenant  Loucks,  herewith  appended  and  marked  A,  will  fully  explain. 


BOMBARDMENT.    OF    INDIAN    VILLAGE    AT    WRANGEL,  ALASKA.      3 

Apprehending  trouble,  I  had  turned  out  the  entire  force  under  my  com 
mand,  and  as  soon  as  tiring  was  heard  at  the  ranch  I  immediately  sent 
a  detachment  of  ten  men  as  far  as  the  store  of  the  post  trader,  some 
three  hundred  yards  from  the  garrison,  with  instructions  to  act  in  con 
cert  with  Lieutenant  Loucks's  party,  should  they  require  assistance.  A 
picket  guard  was  stationed  around  the  camp,  and  everything  placed  in 
a  condition  of  defense. 

About  10  o'clock  a.  m.  of  the  morning  of  December  26, 1869,  the  ser 
geant  of  the  guard  reported  several  shots  in  the  direction  of  the  store, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  word  was  brought  to  me  that  Mr.  Leon  Smith, 
partner  of  the  post  trader,  W.  E.  Lear,  had  been  shot  near  the  door  of 
the  store.  Mr.  Smith  was  soon  after  brought  in  to  the  garrison  and 
taken  to  the  hospital,  where  his  wounds  were  examined  by  the  surgeon, 
who  pronounced  them  of  a  most  serious  character,  fourteen  shots  having 
penetrated  the  body  on  the  left  side,  just  below  the  heart,  and  three  in 
the  lei't  wrist.  Nothing  further  occurred  during  the  night,  and  at  day 
light  in  the  morning  I  sent  Lieutenant  Loucks  again  to  the  ranch  with 
a  detachment  under  a  flag  of  truce,  with  instructions  to  see  the  chief  of 
the  tribe,  Shakes,  and  demand  of  him  the  murderer,  the  Indians  to  turn, 
the  man  over  to  him  there,  or  failing  in  that,  I  gave  them  until  12  o'clock 
that  day  to  bring  him  in,  notifying  them  that  if  at  that  hour  the  man 
Scutd-dor,  whom  I  knew  to  be  in  the  ranch,  was  not  in  my  custody,  I 
should  open  fire  upon  them  from  the  garrison.  I  also  directed  Lieuten 
ant  Loucks  to  inform  the  principal  chiefs  of  the  tribe,  Shakes,  Torryat, 
Shonta,  Hank,  and  Quamnanasty,  that  I  wished  to  see  and  talk  with  them, 
at  the  post  as  soon  as  practicable.  This  message  I  had  sent  to  each  of  the 
chiefs  by  an  Indian  woman  before  Lieutenant  Loucks  left  the  post,  and 
I  am  confident  that  it  was  delivered.  For  the  result  of  Lieutenant 
Loucks's  interview  with  Shakes  and  Torryat,  I  would  respectfully  call 
your  attention  to  his  report.  On  the  return  of  Lieutenant  Loucks  to 
the  post,  and  reporting  to  me  the  refusal  of  the  chiefs  to  come  to  the 
garrison,  their  indisposition  to  deliver  up  the  murderer,  and  the  hostile 
disposition  manifested  by  those  present,  all  of  whom  were  armed,  I  con 
sulted  with  the  officers  present  as  to  the  propriety  of  carrying  out  my 
threat  of  firing  on  the  village,  and  tliey  were  unanimous  in  the  opinion 
that  nothing  but  the  most  decided  measures  would  insure  the  safety  of 
the  post.  At  12  o'clock  110  signs  were  made  of  any  disposition  on  the 
part  of  the  Indians  to  comply  with  my  orders ;  but  their  intentions  to 
fight  were  made  evident  by  the  numerous  persons  engaged  in  carrying 
their  goods  to  what  they  considered  places  of  safety.  I  waited,  how 
ever,  without  avail  until  nearly  2  o'clock,  hoping  that  they  might 
change  their  determination  •  and  at  2  o'clock  I  opened  with  solid  shot 
on  the  house  in  which  I  knew  the  murderer,  Scutdor,  resided ;  several 
shots  struck  the  house,  but  the  Indians  maintained  their  position  and 
returned  the  fire  from  the  ranch,  several  of  their  shots  striking  in  close 
proximity  to  the  men.  Later  in  the  day  fire  was  opened  on  the  gun 
detachments  from  the  hills  in  rear  of  and  commanding  the  post,  but  fdr- 
tunately  without  effect.  This  was  replied  to  from  the  upper  windows  of 
the  hospital,  and,  in  connection  with  a  few  rounds  of  canister  in  that 
direction,  soon  drove  them  away.  Firing  was  kept  up  on  their  part  all 
of  the  afternoon,  and  a  slow  fire  from  the  6-pounder  gun  on  the  village 
was  maintained  until  dark.  The  next  morning,  just  at  day-break,  they 
opened  on  the  garrison  from  the  ranch  with  musketry,  which  was  im 
mediately  replied  to,  and  seeing  that  they  were  determined  not  only  to 
resist,  but  had  become  the  assailants,  I  resolved  to  shell  them,  but  hav 
ing  only  solid  shot  for  the  6-pounder,  and  the  distance  being  too  great 


4       BOMBARDMENT    OF    INDIAN    VILLAGE    AT    WRANGEL,  ALASKA. 

for  canister,  I  still  continued  the  tire  from  that  gun  with  shot  and  from 
the  mountain  howitzer  with  shell.  The  practice  was  excellent,  consid 
ering*  that  I  have  no  breech  sights  for  any  of  the  gnus  at  the  post — 
notwithstanding  that  three  requisitions  had  been  made  for  the  same — 
and  after  four  shells  had  been  fired,  two  bursting  immediately  in  front 
of  the  houses,  and  two  solid  shots  just  through  the  house  of  the  princi 
pal  chief,  Shakes,  a  flag  of  truce  was  seen  approaching  the  post,  and 
firing  on  my  part  ceased.  The  flag  of  truce  bore  a  message  from  Shakes 
that  he  and  the  other  chiefs  wished  to  talk  with  me,  and  I  replied  that 
I  would  talk  with  them  in  the  garrison;  but  that  the  murderer  must 
be  brought  in,  for  without  him  <*  talk  was  useless." 

Soon"  after  the  chiefs  were  seen  coining  over,  and  a  party  behind  them 
with  the  murderer,  who  was  easily  recognized  by  his  dress.  Just  as 
they  were  leaving  the  ranch  a  scuffle,  evidently  prearranged,  took 
place,  and  the  prisoner  escaped  and  was  seen  making  for  the  bush,  no 
attempt  to  rearrest  him  being  made.  The  chiefs  on  their  arrival  at  the 
garrison  were  received  by  myself  and  the  other  officers,  and  a  conference 
ensued.  They  were  then  informed  that  until  "  the  murderer  was 
brought  in  no  terms  would  be  extended  to  them;  that  on  that  basis 
alone  I  would  treat.77  Finding  me  determined  to  have  the  man  at  all 
hazards,  they  then  asked  what  time  would  be  given,  and  stated  that  as 
a  proof  of  their  good  intentions  they  would  surrender  to  me  the  mother 
of  the  murderer.  I  informed  them  that  they  must,  as  they  proposed, 
bring  me  the  hostage  at  once,  and  in  addition,  the  sub-chief  of  the  tribe 
to  which  the  murderer  belonged,  the  head  chief  being  absent  up  the 
Stickine  Kiver;  and  that,  if  the  murderer  himself  was  not  in  my  pos- 
sesion  by  six  o7clock  the  following  evening,  I  would  open  on  them  and 
destroy  the  entire  ranch,  together  with  its  occupants. 

This  closed  the  conference,  and  during  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day 
the  woman  and  the  sub-chief  were  brought  in  and  placed  in  confinement. 
That  evening,  about  nine  o7clock,  the  murderer  Scutdor  was  brought  in 
by  the  chiefs  and  surrendered  to  me.  The  next  morning,  December  27, 
a  court  was  organized  by  general  post  order  No.  76,  for  the  trial  of  the 
murderer,  who  was  identified  by  the  five  chiefs  of  the  tribe  and  by  his 
own  confession.  For  the  proceedings  of  the  trial  I  have  the  honor  to 
call  your  attention  to  the  accompanying  report  appended  and  marked 
B.  In  pursuance  of  the  sentence  of  the  court,  the  man  was  duly 
executed  by  hanging,  at  twelve  o?clock  and  thirty  minutes,  on  the  29th 
of  December,  1869,  in  full  view  of  the  entire  ranch,  the  five  chiefs  and 
the  Indian  doctor  being  in  immediate  attendance  at  the  gallows.  The 
execution  passed  off  without  accident,  and  the  body  remained  hanging 
until  sun-down,  when,  by  my  permission,  it  was  taken  away  by  his 
friends. 

Too  much  praise  cannot  be  awarded  to  the  officers  and  men  of  this 
command  for  their  coolness  and  general  good  behavior,  particularly 
when  it  is  remembered  that  twenty-two  of  the  men  were  new  recruits, 
many  of  whom  had  never  seen  any  service.  I  would  particularly  call 
the  attention  of  the  major  general  commanding  the  department  to  First 
Lieutenant  M.  R.  Loucks,  Second  Artillery,  whose  promptness  and  de 
cision  in  carrying  out  the  instructions  given  him  entitle  him  to  the 
greatest  praise,  particularly  in  his  interview  with  the  chiefs  on  his 
second  visit  to  the  ranch. 

I  would  also  call  your  attention  to  the  report  of  Acting  Assistant  Sur 
geon  H.  M.  Eick,  United  States  Army,  marked  C,  of  the  casualties 
which  occrred  during  the  trouble. 

In  conclusion,  I  can  only  say  that,  though  regretting  that  extreme 


BOMBARDMENT    OF    INDIAN    VILLAGE    AT    WRANGEL,  ALASKA.      5 

measures  had  to  be  resorted  to,  yet  under  ths  circumstances  I  consider 
nothing  else  would  have  accomplished  the  object  in  view — that  of  bring 
ing  Mr.  Smith's  murderer  to  justice,  and  reducing  the  Indians  to  a  state 
of  subjection  to  the  United  States  authority.  Everything  is  now  quiet, 
and  I  have  no  reason  to  anticipate  any  future  trouble;  yet  my  vigilance 
is  not  remitted,  nor  will  it  be,  as  I  have  110  confidence  in  any  promises 
made  by  Indians.  They  have  shown  their  hostile  feelings  in  this  in 
stance,  and  it  is  only  through  fear  and  the  knowledge  that  any  crime 
committed  by  them  will  meet  with  prompt  punishment,  that  will  keep 
them  in  proper  subjection. 

I  would  also  request  that  the  thirty -pound  Parrot  gun  asked  for  in 
my  last  requisition  may  be  sent  to  me  at  as  early  a  date  as  practicable, 
for,  had  that  gun  been  in  position,  I  think  two  percussion  shells  would 
have  brought  the  Indians  to  terms. 

Mr.  Smith  died  at  eleven  o'clock  of  the  night  of  the  26th  of  Decem 
ber,  1869.  His  sufferings  were  terrible,  and  death  must  have  been  a 
relief. 

Trusting  that  my  action  may  meet  with  the  approval  of  the  major 
general  commanding  the  department, 

I  am,  captain,  verv  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  BOBROWB, 
First  Lieutenant  Second  Artillery. 

Brevet  Captain  S.  B.  MC!NTYBE, 

A.  A.  A.  General,  Department  Alaska,  SitJca,  Alaska. 

A  true  copy. 

SAM'L  B.  McINTIKE, 
First  Lieut.  Second  Artillery,  and  Bvi.  Gapt.  U.  S.  A.,  A.  A.  A.  G. 


A. 

FORT  WRANGEL,  WRANGEL  ISLAND,  A.  T., 

December  26,  1869. 

SIR  :  About  12  o'clock  midnight,  on  the  night  of  the  25th  December, 
1869,  it  was  reported  through  the  garrison  that  the  wife  of  Quarter 
master  Sergeant  Muller,  battery  I,  Second  Artillery,  had  had  her  finger 
bitten  off  by  an  Indian.  I  proceeded  to  her  quarters  to  verity  the  re 
port,  and  there  saw  that  the  third  finger  of  her  right  hand  had  been 
bitten  or  torn  off  by  an  Indian  named  Si-wau,  as  all  present  stated.  I 
returned  for  my  saber  and  belt,  reported  to  the  commanding  officer,  then 
set  off  for  the  Indian  village  with  a  detachment  of  twenty  men  to  arrest 
the  Indian  Si-wau.  Having  arrived  in  that  portion  of  the  village  nearest 
to  the  garrison,  I  intended  to  enter  Tow-ye-at's  house,  expecting  to  find 
there  the  Indian  I  wanted. 

Before  entering  Tow-ye-at's  house,  I  met  an  Indian  in  a  red  cap  and 
shirt,  named  Scudt-doo,*  who,  upon  being  asked  to  do  so,  told  me  that 
Si-wau  had  left  Tow-ye-at's  house  and  gone  to  another  near  by,  which 
lie  pointed  out  to  me.  I  entered  the  house  with  twelve  men,  leaving  the 
remainder  to  guard  the  entrance  outside.  Si-wau  was  sitting  down  near 
the  fire  opposite  the  entrance,  with  nothing  on  but  pants.  The  position 
of  the  detachment  in  the  house  formed  in  single"  rank  along  the  nearest 
side  of  the  quadrangular  space,  with  instructions  to  fire  whenever  I 

*This  is  the  Indian  who  subsequently  shot  Mr.  Smith. 


6       BOMBARDMENT   OP    INDIAN    VILLAGE    AT    WRANGEL,  ALASKA. 

should  give  the  signal.  With  Si-wau  there  were  Esteen,  his  brother, 
Si-wau's  klootchman,  (wife,)  and  old  Klootchman,  (woman,)  who  was 
sitting  up,  and  perhaps  a  few  others  sleeping  in  different  parts  of  the 
house.  I  tapped  Si-wau  on  the  shoulder,  saying  that  I  wanted  him  to 
come  with  me.  He  arose  from  his  sitting  posture  and  said  he  would  put 
on  his  vest ;  after  that  he  wished  to  get  his  coat.  Feeling  convinced 
that  this  was  merely  to  gain  time,  that  he  wished  to  trifle  with  me,  I 
began  to  be  more  urgent.  Si-wau  appeared  less  and  less  inclined  to 
come  away  with  me,  and  in  this,  the  latter  part  of  the  parley,  he  became 
impudent  and  menacing  in  raising  his  hands  as  if  to  strike  me.  I  ad 
monished  him  against  such  actions,  and  tried  my  utmost  to  avoid  ex 
treme  measures  in  arresting  him.  About  this  time,  Esteen,  probably 
apprehending  danger  to  his  brother  Si-wau,  rushed  forward  in  front  of 
the  detachment,  extending  his  arms  theatrically  and  exclaiming,  as  I 
supposed  under  the  circumstances,  "Shoot;  kill  me;  I  am  not  afraid." 
Si-wau  seeing  this,  also  rushed  upon  the  detachmen  t,  en  deavoring  to  snatch 
a  musket  away  from  one  of  the  men  on  the  right  of  the  detachment. 
Still  wishing  to  avoid  loss  of  life  if  possible,  I  tried  to  give  him  two  or 
three  saber  cuts  over  the  head  to  stun  without  killing  him. 

In  doing  this  I  had  given  the  preconcerted  signal  (by  raising  my  hand) 
to  fire.  I  should  judge  about  six  or  eight  shots  were  fired  during  the 
melee,  and  only  ceasing  by  the  Indian  Si-wau  falling  at  the  feet  of 
the  detachment  dead.  Esteen  and  the  others  running  to  their  holes, 
everything  became  quiet.  I  then  directed  the  detachment  not  to  renew 
the  firing  until  further  orders.  I  had  Esteen  pulled  out,  and  discovered 
he  was  bleeding  profusely  from  a  wound  in  his  right  arm  near  the 
shoulder.  Two  handkerchiefs  were  tied  around  his  arm  above  the  wound 
to  check  the  bleeding.  My  first  thought  was  to  arrest  him  also,  for  in- 
terference3  but  afterward  considering  that  he  was  intoxicated,  and  that 
his  interference  was  to  protect  his  brother  Si-wau,  who,  in  my  opinion, 
was  in  the  same  condition  of  intoxication,  I  concluded  that  he  had  been 
sufficiently  punished,  and  directed  that  he  be  carried  over  to  the  hospi 
tal  for  treatment,  and  that  the  dead  Indian  should  be  carried  over  to 
the  guard-house. 

While  preparing  to  carry  over  the  two  Indians,  a  tumult  of  challeng 
ing  by  the  guard  outside  the  house,  and  Indians  shouting  to  their 
friends,  began.  Leaving  First  Sergeant  Dean  to  superintend  prepara 
tions  for  the  transportation  of  the  Indians,  I  went  outside  and  found 
there,  near  the  door,  the  sub  chief,  Tow-ye-at,  who,  I  suppose,  did  the 
shouting,  and  was  the  cause  of  the  challenging.  At  that  time  I  could 
not  see  whether  Tow-ye-at  was  armed  or  not,  although  the  men  said  he 
had  a  knife,  and  to  beware  of  him.  I  told  him  (Tow-ye  at)  that  I  had 
finished  my  business,  and  that  I  was  about  to  return  with  the  men.  I 
told  him  that  if  he  wished  to  say  anything  to  the  soldier  Ty-ee,he  could 
do  so  in  the  morning.  With  that  I  gently-led  him  toward  the  house 
and  advised  him  to  go  to  bed.  That  was  the  last  I  saw  of  Tow-ye-at 
that  night. 

The  two  Indians  were  accordingly  brought  over  and  the  result  re 
ported  to  the  commanding  officer.  I  dismissed  the  detachment,  and 
supposing  no  further  disturbance  would  occur,  was  sitting  in  post  sur 
geon's  quarters,  when,  about  an  hour  or  thereabouts  after  my  return,  a 
shot  was  heard  from  the  direction  of  the  store  of  the  post  trader.  Tak 
ing  with  me  Private  Magee  I  ran  down  there,  and  while  on  the  way  Pri 
vate  Magee  drew  my  attention  to  an  object  lying  on  the  ground  near 
the  plank  walk  running  between  the  store  and  the  garrison.  Upon  ex 
amination  it  proved  to  be  Mr.  Leon  Smith,  the  partner  of  William  King 


BOMBARDMENT    OF    INDIAN    VILLAGE    AT    WRANGEL,  ALASKA.      7 

Lear,  the  post  trader.  Mr.  Smith  was  lying  on  his  breast  upon  a  low 
stump  alongside  of  the  plank  walk,  with  arms  extended  and  a  revolv 
ing  pistol  fallen  from  the  grasp  of  the  right  hand.  I  first  supposed  him 
dead,  but  by  placing  him  in  a  more  comfortable  position  and  speaking 
to  him,  he  groaned  merely.  I  then  sent  to  the  garrison  for  a  stretcher 
and  men.  At  about  this  time  Gleason  and  Henderson  came  up. 

In  order  to  preserve  the  body  from  attempted  mutilation,  the  three 
present  posted  themselves  near  by  to  look  out  for  Indians  in  ambush. 
After  a  few  moments  I  went  up  in  front  of  the  store,  and  told  those  in 
side  to  bring  out  a  blanket  with  which  to  carry  Mr.  Smith  to  the  hos 
pital.  This  done,  I  posted  three  men,  who  had  been  previously  sent  to 
defend  the  store,  behind  obstacles  in  front  of  it.  After  having  remained 
posted  with  the  pickets  a  short  time  in  order  to  understand  the  condi 
tion  of  things  around  the  store,  and  to  observe  any  movements  in  the 
village,  I  returned  to  the  garrison  to  inquire  into  the  circumstances  of 
the  shooting  of  Mr.  Smith,  and  to  receive  orders  in  the  case.  Directly 
after  reveille,  according  to  instructions,  I  proceeded  with  a  detachment 
of  twenty  men  under  a  flag  of  truce  to  the  Indian  village,  to  demand 
that  the  chiefs  should  come  over  to  the  garrison  to  settle  the  difficulty 
by  giving  up  the  murderer  of  Mr.  Smith,  at  or  before  12  o'clock  in.  that 
day;  or,  failing  in  this,  that  the  commanding  officer  would  open  lire  upon 
the  Indian  village  at  the  expiration  of  the  time  allowed  in  which  the 
surrender  of  the  murderer  was  to  have  been  made. 

When  within  about  a  hundred  yards  of  the  village,  my  interpreter 
pointed  out  an  Indian  in  a  red  coat  as  the  one  that  the  Indian  chiefs 
were  demanded  to  surrender.  My  instructions,  and  especially  the  flag 
of  truce  at  the  head  of  the  detachment,  as  well  as  the  lack  of  positive 
proof  of  identity,  precluded  any  exercise  of  force  to  make  any  arrest 
this  time,  or  to  bring  him  down  with  a  volley.  I  there  met  Tow-ye-at 
in  his  war  paint  and  fighting  costume,  and  communicated  to  him  the 
demands  of  the  commanding  officer.  Tow-ye-at  refused  both  the  inter 
view  and  the  surrender  of  the  murderer.  He  stated  twice  that  if  fire  was 
opened  upon  the  village  he  would  die  in  his  house.  I  explained  to  them 
all  that  the  commanding  officer  was  not  angry  with  all  of  them, only  with 
the  murderer  of  Mr.  Smith,  and  that  if  the  murderer  was  surrendered, 
friendship  and  good  feeling  would  return;  and  still  earnestly  wishing 
and  endeavoring  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  opening  fire,  I  proposed  even 
that  the  commanding  officer  might  meet  the  chiefs  half  way  between  the 
garrison  and  the  village,  all  parties  to  the  interview  without  an  armed 
escort.  Tow-ye  at  refused  the  demands  and  the  modifications  which  I 
did  assume  to  make  in  order  to  discover  the  least  desire  on  their  part 
to  avoid  trouble.  Tow-ye-at  was  stiff.  The  members  of  his  tribe  were 
continually  assembling,  armed  with  Hudson  Bay  muskets,  iron  spears, 
pistols,  &c.,  and  more  than  half  surrounding  me  at  different  times  dur 
ing  the  interview,  in  their  eagerness,  and,  judging  from  the  aspect  of 
affairs  generally,  evidently  determined  to  have  revenge  for  the  killing 
of  one  and  wounding  of  another  Indian  the  night  before.  I  insisted 
and  repeated  to  Tow-ye  at  that  by  having  the  interview  everything  could 
be  satisfactorily  arranged;  but  all  to  no  purpose.  After  a  talk  of  an 
hour  or  so  with  Tow-ye-at  and  his  friends,  including  also  Mo-naw-is-ty, 
and  many  of  his  friends  who  were  within  hearing,  Shakes  at  the  head 
of  his  own  tribe  came  over  and  took  part  in  the  interview.  His  manner 
as  he  approached  was  quite  self-important.  His  friends,  like  Tow-ye-at, 
were,  with  few  exceptions,  armed  with  flint  lock  muskets,  with  thumb 
and  finger  ready  to  cock  their  pieces  and  open  fire  in  grand  style.  With 
Shakes's  friends,  added  to  those  already  on  the  grounds,  about  one-half 


8       BOMBARDMENT    OF    INDIAN    VILLAGE    AT    WRANGEL,  ALASKA. 

of  the  bucks  of  the  Stakeen  tribe  were  assembled,  I  th 
Shakes  of  the  demands  of  the  commanding  officer,  but  with  no  more 
success  than  with  Tow-ye-at,  with  the  addition,  however,  that  if  the 
commanding  officer  wished  to  see  him,  he  (the  commanding  officer)  could 
come  over  to  the  village  to  do  so. 

.  I  told  them  all  again  that  their  village  would  be  destroyed  like  the 
Kaik  village  last  winter,  and  that  wherever  American  steamers  found 
them  the  same  thing  would  be  done  again.  I  also  made  inquiries  in  ref 
erence  to  Corporal  Northrop,  Battery  I,  Second  Artillery,  who,  it  was  sup 
posed,  had  been  in  the  village  the  night  previous,  and  not  been  seen  since 
that  night.  All  said  that  lie  had  gone  5  some  said  over  to  the  garrison 
in  a  canoe,  and  others  said  he  was  drunk  in  the  bushes. 

I  explained  to  them  until  I  was  tired  of  it,  that  the  commanding  offi 
cer  only  wished  a  friendly  interview,  and  that  it  was  but  one  Indian  he 
wanted,  the  murderer  of  Mr.  Smith. 

Shakes  indicated  that  he  had  no  more  to  say,  and  believing  myself 
that  the  whole  matter  had  been  fully  explained  to  them  all,  nothing  re 
mained  but 'to  return  to  make  iny  report  of  the  result. 

The  Indians,  so  far  from  acceding  to  the  demands  in  the  beginning  of 
the  interview,  became  more  and  more  stubborn  as  their  numbers  in- 
creasecj,  and  instead  of  facilitating  a  peaceful  settlement  of  the  difficul 
ties,  it  seemed  to  me  more  probable  they  might  have  been  increased  by 
an  accident  even. 

1  consider  that  under  the  circumstances  everything  possible  was  done 
to  effect  a  peaceful  settlement,  and  nothing  remained  but  to  execute  the 
threat  attached  or  included  in  the  demand. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

M.  E.  LOUCKS, 
First  Lieut.  Second  Artillery,  Officer  of  the  Day. 

First  Lieutenant  W.  BORROWE, 

Second  Artillery,  Commanding. 

A  true  copy. 

SAM'L  B.  McESTTIRE, 

First  Lieut.  Second  Artillery  and  Bvt.  Copt.  U.  S.  A.,  A.  A.  A.  0. 


B. 

FORT  WRANGEL,  WRANGEL  ISLAND,  ALASKA, 

December  28,  1869. 

Proceedings  of  a  trial  of  a  Stakeen  Indian,  named  Scutd-doo,  at  Fort 
Wrangel,  Wrangel  Island,  Alaska,  in  accordance  with  the  following  or 
der,  viz  : 

HEADQUARTERS  FORT  WRANGEL,  WRANGKL  ISLAND,  A.  T., 

December  27,  1869. 
[General  Orders  No.  76.] 

Prompt  and  decided  action  being  absolutely  necessary,  tlie  following-named  officers 
and  citizens  will  assemble  at  this  post  to-morrow,  the  28th  instant,  at  12  o'clock  m.,  for 
the  trial  of  an  Indian,  named  Scntd-doo,  for  the  willful  murder  on  the  morning  of  De 
cember  26,  1869,  of  Leon  Smith,  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  at  Wrangel  Island, 
Alaska. 

Detail :  First  Lieutenant  Wm.  Borrowe,  Second  artillery ;  First  Lieutenant  M.  R. 
Loucks,  Second  artillery  ;  Acting  Assistant  Surgeon  H.  M.  Kirke  U.  S.  A. ;  William  K. 
Lear,  post  trader.  First  Lieutenant  M.  R.  Loucks  will  act  as  recorder. 

WM.  BORROWE, 
First  Lieutenant  Second  Artillery,  Commanding „ 


BOMBARDMENT  OF  INDIAN  VILLAGE  AT  WRANGEL,  ALASKA.     9 

FORT  WRAXGEL,  WRANGEL  ISLAND, 

December  28,  1869—12  o'clock  in. 

Present :  All  the  officers  and  citizens  named  in  the  above  order ;  also 
the  following  named  Stakeen  chiefs  : 

1.  Shakes,  Kah-ous-tay  Hah  Kotsk.      2.  Tou-ye-at  Hoots.    3.  Shus- 
tah-ack  Konn  Kay.     4.  Qu-naw-is-tay  Kosh-Keh.     5.  Klah-Keh. 
Present :  Scutd-doo,  Wish-tah,  the  prisoner. 

First  Lieutenant  Win.  Borrowe,  Second  Artillery ,  stated  that  the  pris 
oner,  on  the  night  of  the  27th -December,  1869,  confessed  himself  to  be 
the  Indian  who  murdered  Mr.  Leon  Smith. 

Each  one  of  the  above-mentioned  chiefs  identified  the  prisoner  as  the 
murderer  of  Mr.  Leon  Smith,  the  partner  of  the  post  trader  at  Fort 
Wrangel,  Alaska  Territory.  Shakes,  as  well  as  all  the  other  chiefs,  upon 
being  asked  what  punishment  should  be  inflicted  upon  the  prisoner  for 
his  crime,  say  they  agree  to  whatever  punishment  that  may  be  neces 
sary.  It  is  then  announced  that  it  is  the  will  of  the  officers  and  citizens 
present  during  the  trial  that  the  prisoner,  the  Indian  Scutd-doo,  at  mid 
day  December  29,  1869,  shall  be  hanged  by  the  neck  until  dead,  in  pres 
ence  of  the  troops,  citizens,  and  the  five  Stakeen  chiefs,  and  that  he 
should  remain  so  hanging  until  nightfall,  when  his  friends  could  remove 
the  body.  To  which  all  the  chiefs  assented. 

The  prisoner,  upon  hearing  this,  replied,  very  well ;  that  he  had  killed 
a  tyhee,  and  not  a  common  man ;  that  he  would  see  Mr.  Smith  in  the 
other  world,  and,  as  it  were,  explain  to  him  how  it  all  happened ;  that 
he  did  not  intend  to  kill  Mr.  Leon  Smith,  particularly;  had  it  been  any 
one  else  it  would  have  been  all  the  same. 

WM.  BOEEOWE, 
First  Lieutenant  Second  Artillery,  President.    - 

M.  E.  LOUCKS, 
First  Lieutenant  Second  Artillery,  Recorder. 

H.  M.  KIEKE, 
Acting  Assistant  Surgeon  U.  S.  A.,  Member  of  Court. 

The  prisoner  was  then  returned  to  the  guard  for  confinement,  till  the 
hour  of  his  execution,  whereupon  the  trial  closed. 

WM.  BOEEOWE, 
First  Lieutenant  Second  Artillery,  President. 

M.  E.  LOUCKS, 
First  Lieutenant  Second  Artillery,  Recorder. 

H.  M.  KIEKE, 
Acting  Assistant  Surgeon  U.  S.  A.,  Member  of  Court. 


HEADQUARTERS  FORT  WRANGEL, 

WRANGEL  ISLAND,  ALASKA  TERRITORY, 

December2$,  1869. 

The  foregoing  proceedings  are  approved,  and  the  sentence  of  the  court 
will  be  carried  into  effect ;  the  prisoner,  Scutd-doo,  will  be  executed  at 
12  o'clock  m.  of  the  29th  of  December,  1869. 

WM.  BOEEOWE, 
First  Lieutenant  Second  Artillery,  Commanding. 

A  true  copy. 

SAML.  B.  McIOTIEE, 

First  Lieut.  Second  Artillery,  and  Bvt.  Capt.  U.  S.  A.,  A.  A  A.  G. 
S.  Ex.  Doc.  67 2 


10    BOMBARDMENT   OF   INDIAN  VILLAGE    AT   WHAN  GEL,  ALASKA. 

C. 

POST  HOSPITAL,  FORT  WRANGEL, 

WRANGEL  ISLAND,  ALASKA  TERRITORY, 

December  29,  1869. 

SIE:   I  have  the  liouor  to  report  as  the  result  of  the  late  Indian 
trouble : 

One  (1)  white  man,  Mr.  Leon  Smith,  killed. 
One  (1)  Indian  killed. 

One  (1)  white  woman,  company  laundress,  finger  bitten  off. 
One  (1)  Indian  severely  wounded,  by  gun-shot  fracture  of  the  right 
humerus. 

One  (1)  Indian  hung. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

H.  M.  KIRKE, 
Acting  Assistant  Surgeon  United  States  Army, 

In  charge  of  Post  Hospital* 
First  Lieutenant  WM.  BORROWE, 

Second  United  States  Artillery,  Commanding  Post. 

A  true  copy. 

SAM'L  B.  McINTIEE, 

First  Lieutenant  Second  Artillery,  and  Brevet  Captain  U.  S.  A., 

Acting  Assistant  Adjutant  General, 


41ST  CONGRESS,  )  SENATE. 

2d  Session.       j  i    No.  68. 


LETTER 

OF 

THE   SECRETARY    OF    THE   INTERIOR 

COMMUNICATING, 

In  compliance  with  a  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  the  14£7i  instant,  so  much 
of  the  report  of  Vincent  Colyer,  special  Indian  commissioner,  as  relates 
to  the  Indian  village  of  Wrangel,  Alaska,  showing  the  condition  of  that 
village  previous  to  its  recent  bombardment  by  United  States  troops. 


MARCH  22,  1870. — Referred  to  the  Committee  on  Military  Affairs  and  ordered  to  be 

printed. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Washington,  D.  C.,  March  22,  1870. 

SIR  :  In  compliance  with  a  resolution  of  the  Senate,  of  the  14th  instant, 
I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  <;  so  much  of  the  report  of  Vin 
cent  Colyer,  special  Indian  commissioner,  as  relates  to  the  Indian  vil 
lage  of  Wrangel,  Alaska,  including  the  accompanying  illustrations,  now 
in  the  hands  of  the  government  printer,  showing  the  condition  of  that 
village  previous  to  its  recent  bombardment  by  the  United  States 
troops." 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  T.  OTTO, 

Acting  Secretary. 

Hon.   SOHUYLER  COLFAX, 

President  of  the  Senate. 


WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  March  16, 1870, 

SIR  :  In  response  to  the  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States, 
calling  for  "  so  much  of  my  report  on  the  Indian  tribes  of  Alaska  Terri 
tory  as  relates  to  the  Indian  village  of  Wrangel,  including  the  accom 
panying  illustrations,  now  in  the  hands  of  the  government  printer,  show 
ing  the  condition  of  that  village  previous  to  its  recent  bombardment  by 
the  United  States  troops,"  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following 
report. 

Sincerely,  your  obedient  servant, 

VINCENT  COLYER. 
Secretary  Board  of  Indian  Commissioners. 
Hon.  J.  D.  Cox, 

Secretary  of  the  Interior. 


2  WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT. 

WKANGEL. 

The  Indian  village  of  Wrangel  is  in  latitude  56°  27'  20",  and  132°  13 
15"  west,  or  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles  north  of  the  boundary 
line  of  British  Columbia.  It  is  located  on  a  tongue  of  land  and  cove  in 
the  northwest  shore  of  Wrangel  Island.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the 
cove  or  other  horn  of  the  Crescent,  the  United  States  post  is  established 
about  eight  hundred  yards  distant,  with  its  guns  commanding  the  vil 
lage.*  There  are  thirty-two  houses  in  the  village,  and  when  all  are  at 
home  there  are  five  hundred  and  eight  inhabitants.  Of  these,  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty-nine  are  men,  and  three  hundred  and  forty-nine  are  women 
and  children.  (See  Appendix  A.)  Of  the  men,  about  one-half  may  be 
capable  of  bearing  arms,  (as  with  us.)  A  number  of  the  more  athletic 
are  usually  absent  with  the  principal  chief  up  the  Stikine  Eiver,  trading 
with  the  natives  of  the  interior.  Their  weapons  of  defense  are  a  few  old 
flint-lock  muskets — mostly  of  Russian  make — some  pikes,  and  knives,  as 
they  live  by  fishing,  and  the  peaceful  interchange  of  smoked  salmon  and 
ulicum  oil,  for  furs,  &c.,  with  the  Indians  of  the  interior.  (See  Appendix 
B  and  F.) 

Sketch  No.  1  on  the  opposite  page,  shows  the  portion  of  the  village 
recently  bombarded,  which  is  located  on  the  bay  nearest  the  United 
States  post,  and  sketch  No.  2  is  a  rapidly  engraved  sketch  of  the  gov 
ernment  post  on  which  he  guns  are  located.  The  right  of  Sketch  No. 
2  joins  on  to  the  left  of  Sketch  No.  1,  and  as  seen  thus  shows  the  nar 
row  cove  across  which  the  shelling  of  the  village  took  place.  The  small 
log-house  and  bowling  alley  to  the  right  on  Sketch  No.  2  is  Leon  Smith's, 
the  post-trader's  store. 

To  the  right  of  the  portion  of  the  Indian  village,  as  seen  in  Sketch  No. 
1  and  out  of  the  picture,  is  the  residence  of  the  widow  of  Skillat,  the 
old  chief  of  the  Stikine  tribe  at  Wrangel.  Sketch  No.  3,  with  a  view  of 
the  interior,  Sketch  No.  4.  Further  on  is  a  picture  of  Shek's  house, 
through  which  a  couple  of  six-pound  solid  shot  were  thrown — Sketch 
No.  5. 

INDIAN  HOUSES  AT  WKANGEL. 

The  houses  are  well  constructed  habitations,  built  of  plank  fastened 
oa  heavy  timbers,  well  morticed  together.  They  are  large,  being  about 
forty  by  fifty  feet  square,  one  story  high,  and  subdivided  within  into 
smaller  apartments.  The  interior  apartments  were,  doubtless,  copied 
by  the  Indians  from  ships7  cabins,  as  these  were  the  kind  of  habitations 
mostly  seen  by  the  natives  on  board  the  ships  so  frequently  visiting 
their  coast  ;  and  this  illustrates  quite  remarkably  the  ability  of  these 
Indians  to  improve,  and  the  quickness  and  skill  at  imitation. 

These  cabins,  or  private  sleeping-rooms  of  one  family,  are  seen  in 
Sketch  No.  4,  built  on  raised  platforms.  They  are  as  neatly  finished  as 
most  whaling  ships'  cabins,  and  have  bunks,  or  places  for  beds,  built  on 
the  inside  around  the  sides.  They  vary  in  size,  being  usually  about  ten 
by  twenty  feet,  with  ceilings  seven  feet  high. 

Some  of  the  young  men  are  quite  skillful  mechanics,  handling  car 
penters'  tools  with  facility,  and  if  you  will  closely  examine  the  sketch 
you  will  see  that  there  is  a  floor  and  raised  platform  of  boards,  neatly 
fastened  together,  below  the  private  cabins  or  rooms  spoken  of,  so  that 
the  amount  of  carpenter  work  about  one  of  these  houses  is  consider 
able. 

*  The  post  is  garrisoned  by  Company  I,  Second  United  States  Artillery,  First  Lieu 
tenant  W.  Borrowes,  commanding. 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT. 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT. 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT.  5 

They  have  a  large  opening  in  the  roof,  through  which  the  smoke  of 
their  fire  passes,  as  seen  in  No.  4.  Usually,  this  opening  in  the  roof  is 
covered  with  loose  boards,  which  are  placed  on  either  side  of  the  roof, 
according  as  the  wind  may  blow,  always  with  an  opening  left,  through 
which  the  smoke  passes  out.  Sometimes  they  build  a  large  wooden 
chimney,  like  a  cupola,  over  this  opening,  but  more  commonly  it  is  only 
covered  with  boards  as  described. 

You  will  notice  in  {Sketch  No.  4  a  frame- work  erected  in  the  center  of 
the  cabin.  On  this  rack  of  untrimmed  sticks  they  hang  their  salmon 
and  other  fish  to  smoke  and  dry  them  over  the  fire.  They  then  pack 
them  for  use  in  square  boxes  neatly  made  of  yellow  cedar,  smoked, 
oiled,  and  trimmed  with  bears'  teeth,  in  imitation  of  the  nails  we  use  on 
our  trunks — like  the  old  brass  nails  of  former  years. 

Some  of  these  Indian  houses  are  quite  elaborately  painted  on  the  front, 
as  seen  in  Sketch  No.  3,  the  residence  of  Skillat's  widow. 

These  paintings  have  an  allegorical  meaning,  and  frequently  represent 
facts  in  the  history  of  the  chief  or  the  tribe. 

In  front  of  the  entrance  there  is  usually  a  porch,  built  with  railing,  to 
prevent  the  children  from  falling  off,  and  you  will  notice  the  round  hole 
for  the  entrance.  They  are  covered  inside  with  heavy  wooden  doors, 
securely  fastened  within  by  large  wooden  bars,  as  if  for  safety  against 
attacks.  The  doors  are  usually  about  four  feet  in  diameter,  and  their 
circular  form  resembles  the  opening  of  the  "tepe"  or  tents  of  the  tribes 
of  the  plains. 

In  front  of  most  of  the  cabins  of  the  chiefs,  large  poles,  elaborately 
carved,  with  figures  imitating  bears,  sea-lions,  crows,  eagles,  human 
faces,  and  figures,  are  erected.  These  are  supposed  to  represent  facts  in 
the  history  of  the  chiefs,  as  well  as  being  heraldic  symbols  of  the  tribe. 
By  referring  to  Picture  No.  1,  you  will  see  the  poles  (very  poorly  en 
graved)  standing  in  front  of  the  cabins;  in  another  sketch  not  engraved 
is  an  enlarged  copy  of  these  poles,  and  on  No.  5  are  some  very  curious 
colossal  frogs,  a  bear,  and  war-chief,  with  his  u  big  medicine-dance'7  hat 
on.  All  of  these  things  show  a  great  fondness  for  art,  which,  if  developed, 
would  bear  good  fruits.  It  also  shows  that  these  Indians  have  the  time, 
taste,  and  means  for  other  things  than  immediately  providing  the  mere 
necessities  of  existence. 

In  the  carving  of  their  canoes  they  display  great  skill,  making  them 
entirely  by  the  eye.  They  are  as  accurately  balanced  and  beautifully 
modeled  as  possible.  A  copy  of  a  canoe,  with  a  group  of  Indian  women 
dressed  in  their  highly-colored  blankets  and  calicoes,  you  will  find  in 
Sketch  No.  10,  (not  engraved  in  this  edition.) 

PEACEFUL  CHARACTER  OF  THE  INDIANS  AT  WRANGKEL. 

The  testimony  as  to  the  peaceful  and  industrious  character  of  the 
Indians  at  Wrangel  is  abundant.  On  this  point  Leon  Smith,  the  post- 
trader,  who  was  killed,  says  in  a  letter  to  me  dated  October  30,  1869, 
"I  have  found  them  to  be  quiet  and  well  disposed  toward  the  whites.'7 
Again,  "The  Stikine  tribe  are  a  very  honest  tribe  and  partial  to  the 
whites."  (See  Appendix  0.)  W.  Wall,  interpreter  at  Wrangel,  says: 
"  The  majority  of  these  Indians  are  very  industrious  and  are  always 
anxious  to  get  employment,'7  and  he  adds,  "In  conclusion,  I  have  no 
hesitation  in  stating  (after  nearly  three  years'  experience  in  their  means 
and  ways)  that  these  Indians  if  properly  instructed  and  advantage 
taken  of  the  resources  of  the  country,  might  not  be  comfortable,  but  by 


6  WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT. 

the  sale  of  furs  and  their  other  produce,  might  become  wealthy."  (See 
Appendix  D.) 

Hon.  William  S.  Dodge,  ex-may  or  of  Si  tka,  say  s  of  the  Alaska  Indians, 
as  a  whole:  "  They  are  of  a  very  superior  intelligence,  and  have  rapidly 
acquired  many  of  the  American  ways  of  living  and  cooking.  Their 
houses  are  clustered  into  villages,  very  thoroughly  and  neatly  built,  and 
far  more  substantial  and  pretentious  "than  the  log-houses  usually  con 
structed  by  our  hardy  backwoodsmen." 

In  this  description  Mr.  Dodge  includes  the  Stikines,  Kakes,  Kootze- 
noos,  and  the  Koloshan  tribes  generally. 

Of  the  Sitkas  Mr.  Dodge  says:  "They  supply  Sitka  with  its  game, 
fish,  and  vegetables,  such  as  potatoes,  turnips,  beets,  and  radishes,  and 
they  are  sharp  traders." 

Mr.  Frank  K.  Louthan,  post  trader  at  Sitka,  says  of  the  Sitkas: 
"They  are  industrious  and  ingenious,  being  able  to  imitate  admirably 
almost  anything  placed  before  them."  He  tells  of  their  "  chopping  and 
delivering  one  thousand  cords  of  wood  for  the  United  States  quarter 
master,  under  many  disadvantages,  as  well,  if  not  better,  than  it  would 
have  been  done  by  the  same  white  labor,  under  similar  circumstances." 

Mr.  ^outhan  further  says :  "  That  our  Indians  are  susceptible  of  a 
high  standard  of  cultivation  I  have  no  doubt."  "This  can  only  be  done 
by  the  aid  of  industrial  and  educational  schools.  The  missionary  is 
working  to  good  advantage  at  Vancouver  Island  and  at  Fort  Simpson, 
in  whose  schools  can  be  found  men  and  women  of  high  culture  and  re 
finement,  fit  to  grace  almost  any  position  in  life."*  "  The  Koloshans,  our 
own  Indians  from  Tongas  to  the  Copper  Kiver,  are  quite  as  intelligent 
and  easy  of  culture,  needing  only  the  same  liberal  system  of  education 
to,  in  a  very  short  time,  utilize  them  for  every  purpose  of  government 
and  usefulness."  (See  full  report  of  F.  K.  Louthan,  Appendix  E,  and 
report  of  H.  G.  Williams,  Appendix  B.) 

LIQUORS  BROUGHT   TO  WRANOEL. 

As  I  have  reported  at  Tongas,  so  it  was  at  Wrangel.  A  quantity  of 
porter  and  light  wines,  ten  barrels  of  ale,  and  five  barrels  of  distilled 
spirits,  (whisky,  brandy,  &c.,)  were  hoisted  up  from  the  hold  of  the  New- 
bern,  marked  Leon  Smith,  post  trader  at  Wrangel.  As  I  had  called  the 
attention  of  the  revenue  officers  to  the  violation  of  President  Johnson's 
order  in  landing  the  liquors  at  Tongas,  the  officer  commanding  the 
post  at  Wrangel  asked  me  my  opinion  of  the  business.  I  called  his 
attention  to  the  wording  of  the  papers  permitting  the  shipment  of  the 
liquors  from  San  Francisco.  It  was  the  same  as  at  Tongas — for  the 
"use  of  the  officers  at  the  post."  The  captainf  read  this,  reflected  a 
moment,  and  then  said  that  he  would  not  permit  it  to  land.  The  beer 
and  porter  was  landed  and  taken  into  Leon  Smith's  store,  and  the 
whisky,  brandy,  rum,  &c.,  was  carried  up  to  Sitka. 

At  Wrangel,  as  at  Tongas,  there  is  no  medical  attendance,  nor  care  or 
supervision  of  any  kind  whatever,  other  than  military,  over  the  Indians. 

DEMORALIZING  EFFECT  OF  THE  NEAR    PROXIMITY  OF  SOLDIERS  AND 

INDIANS. 

I  have  spoken  of  the  ill  effects  of  the  near  proximity  of  soldiers  to  the 
Indian  villages,  and  of  the  demoralizing  effects  upon  both;  It  is  the 
same  in  all  Indian  countries.  It  appears  to  be  worse  here  because  more 
needless.  Nowhere  else  that  I  have  visited  is  the  absolute  uselessness 

*  Under  charge  pf  Rev.  W.  Duncan,  who  wrote  the  letter  on  page  10.     V.  C. 
t  Brevet  Captain  Borrowes,  U.  S.  A. 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT.  7 

of  soldiers  so  apparent  as  in  Alaska.  The  only  communication  being 
by  water — there  are  no  roads  by  land — it  follows  that  vessels  suitable 
for  plying  up  the  inland  seas,  manned  by  a  few  revenue  officers  or  good, 
smart  sailors,  will  do  more  toward  effectually  preventing  lawlessness 
among  the  Indians,  and  smuggling  or  illicit  trade  with  the  whites  and 
Indians,  than  five  hundred  soldiers  located  at  post.  Nearly  all  the 
United  States  officers  that  I  have  conversed  with  agree  on  the  above, 
and  recommend  a  reduction  in  the  force  in  this  Territory.  There  are 
five  hundred  here  now,  when  two  hundred  would  be  ample  for  the  whole 
Territory. 

The  soldiers  will  have  whisky,  and  the  Indians  are  equally  fond  of  it. 
The  free  use  of  this  by  both  soldiers  and  Indians,  together  with  the 
other  debaucheries  between  them,  rapidly  demoralizes  both,  though  the 
whites,  having  the  larger  resources,  and  being  better  cared  for  by  the 
government  in  houses,  clothing,  and  food,  endure  it  the  longer. 

The  United  States  medical  director  of  the  department  of  Alaska,  Dr. 
E.  J.  Baily,  says :  u  I  am  satisfied  that  little  or  nothing  can  be  done 
until  they  (the  Indians  of  Alaska)*are  placed  under  more  favorable  in 
fluences.  A  greater  mistake  could  not  have  been  committed  than 
stationing  troops  in  their  midst.  They  mutually  debauch  each  other, 
and  sink  into  that  degree  of  degradation  in  which  it  is  utterly  impos 
sible  to  reach  either  through  moral  or  religious  influences."  (See  report, 
Appendix  G.) 

ABUSE  OF    INDIANS  AT  WRANGEL. 

On  my  return  trip,  while  stopping  at  Wrangel,  October  29,  Leon  Smith, 
assisted  by  two  half  drunken  discharged  soldiers,  assaulted  an  Indian 
who  was  passing  in  front  of  his  store.  Mr.  Smith,  ex-confederate  officer, 
said  that  he  was  under  the  impression  (mistaken,  as  he  afterward  admit 
ted)  that  the  Indian  had  struck  Ms  little  boy,  and  he  only  shook  the 
Indian.  The  drunken  soldiers  standing  by  then,  of  their  own  accord, 
(unsolicited,  Mr.  Smith  says,  by  him,)  seized  the  Indian,  brutally  beat 
him,  and  stamped  upon  him.  I  had  been  taking  a  census  of  the  village 
that  afternoon,  and  hearing  the  shouts  of  the  party,  met  the  Indian 
with  his  face  badly  cut  and  bleeding  coming  toward  his  home.  I 
immediately  went  to  the  post  and  suggested  to  the  commandant  that  he 
should  have  the  drunken  soldiers  arrested  and  retained  for  trial.  He 
sent  a  lieutenant,  with  two  or  three  men,  "  to  quell  the  disturbance," 
the  Indians  meanwhile  having  become  excited,  and  to  "  use  his  own 
discretion  about  arresting  the  men."  Lieutenant  Loucks  returned  soon 
after  without  the  drunken  soldiers,  and  gave  as  his  reason  that  "  the 
Indian  struck  Mr.  Smith's  boy,"  which,  as  I  have  said,  was  disproved. 

The  drunken  men  belonged  to  a  party  of  over  one  hundred  discharged 
soldiers  who  had  come  down  on  our  steamer  from  Sitka,  and  were  on 
their  way  to  San  Francisco.  Some  of  them  had  been  drummed  out  of 
the  service  for  robbing  the  Greek  church  at  Sitka,  and  for  other  crimes. 
I  had  informed  the  commandant  of  their  character  the  morning  after 
our  vessel  arrived,  and  suggested  to  him  the  propriety  of  preventing 
any  of  them  from  landing  and  going  to  the  Indian  village.  He  replied 
that  he  had  no  authority  to  prevent  any  one  from  landing.  I  was  sur 
prised  at  this,  as  I  supposed  Alaska  was  an  Indian  territory,  and  that 
the  military  had  supreme  control. 

The  day  after  the  assault  upon  the  Indian,  the  commandant  came  on 
board  the  j^ewbern  and  asked  very  kindly  my  opinion  about  the  pro 
priety  of  attempting  to  arrest  the  two  drunken  soldiers,  but  as  there 


8  WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT. 


No.    3.— THE  WIDOW  OF  SKILLAT,  THE  FORMER  CHIEF'S  HOUSE  AT  WRANGEL, 

ALASKA. 


'  I 


No.  4.— INTERIOR  OF  INDIAN  HOUSE  AT  WRANGEL,  ALASKA. 


were  over  one  hundred  soldiers  on  board,  and  the  affair  had  occurred  at 
near  twilight,  so  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  recognize  the  men,  the 
impracticability  of  doing  this  at  that  late  hour  was  apparent. 

The  news  of  the  bombardment  of  this  village  by  the  commandant  of 
the  post  reached  us  as  we  close  report. 

The  connection  of  some  of  the  events  narrated  above  with  those 
mentioned  in  the  report  to  the  Secretary  of  War  in  his  communication 
to  the  United  States  Senate,  (Ex.  Doc.  No.  67,)  inclosing  the  report  of 
Lieutenant  Borrows  concerning  the  recent  bombardment  makes  them 
interesting. 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT. 


10  WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO   BOMBARDMENT. 

The  following  letter  from  Rev.  Mr.  Duncan  the  most  successful 
missionary  among  the  Indians  in  British  Columbia  near  the  coast  of 
Alaska,  speaking  of  the  bombardment,  is  also  important : 

Letter  from  Eev.  W.  Duncan,  superintendent  of  the  Indian  missions  in  British  Columbia,  near 

the  boundary  line  of  Alaska. 

ASTOR  HOUSE,  NEW  YORK,  February  28,  1870. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  COLYER:  As  I  shall  not  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you  on  my  way 
home  to  England,  permit  me,  my  dear  sir,  by  note,  to  thank  yon  most  sincerely  for  the 
very  kind  letter  you  wrote  and  left  for  me  at  Metlakahtla  last  November.  Your  sym 
pathy  was  very  refreshing,  and  a  fresh  token  of  my  Heavenly  Father's  care  over  me. 

I  am  glad  to  learn  from  your  letter  that  something  is  soon  to  be  done  for  the  spiritual 
welfare  of  the  Indians  of  Alaska.  What  a  pity  it  is,  I  often  think,  the  missionaries 
did  not  precede  the  soldiers,  at  least  to  those  places  where  there  are  only  Indians,  as 
at  Fort  Tongas  and  Fort  Wrangel.  Military  rule  among  Indians,  while,  heathen,  is,  I 
feel  sure,  a  fatal  mistake.  It  will  only  breed  the  troubles  it  was  intended  to  check. 
(The  blood  of  poor  Captain  Smith,  lately  shot  at  Fort  Wrangel,  lies,  I  am  sorry  to  say, 
at  the  door  of  military  authority  there,)  while  both  Indian  and  soldier  are  recipro 
cating  their  vices,  and  both  being  plunged  into  utter  ruin. 

The  accounts  I  have  received  from  time  to  time  of  the  conduct  of  the  soldiers  in  the 
Indian  camps  of  the  coast  of  Alaska  are  truly  shocking.  If  the  United  States  govern 
ment  did  but  know  half,  I  am  sure  they  would  shrink  from  being  identified  with  such 
abominations,  and  the  cause  of  so  much  misery.  I  hope  and  pray,  that  in  God's  good 
providence  the  soldiers  will  be  moved  away  from  Fort  Tongas  and  Fort  Wrangel, 
where  there  are  no  whites  to  protect,  and  missionaries  sent  in  their  places. 

Give  the  missionary  magisterial  power,  and  authority  to  act  as  a  custom-house  offi 
cer  ;  let  him  choose  a  few  Indian  constables,  and  be  occasionally  visited  and  supported 
by  a  ship  of  war,  and  all  will  go  on  well  both  for  the  Indians  and  the  country  too. 
The  Indian  will  gradually  advance  under  the  missionary's  kind  rule,  the  customs  laws 
will  be  efficiently  protected,  at  least  within  the  vicinity  of  the  mission,  and  the 
country  (so  far  as  the  Indians  are  concerned)  become  prepared  for  the  white  settlers. 
When  the  whites  have  made  settlements,  let,  if  need  be,  soldiers  be  sent  to  them. 

Excuse  me,  my  dear  sir,  for  thus  intruding  my  opinion  upon  matters  which  in  one 
sense  do  not  concern  me,  but  I  feel  I  cannot  let  pass  this  opportunity  for  venting  my 
grief  at  what  I  see  in  the  military  establishment  of  Alaska,  which  will,  I  am  sure, 
unless  changed  or  removed,  render  utterly  abortive  any  measures  you  may  adopt  for 
teaching  and  civilizing  the  natives. 

How  rejoiced  I  feel  that  there  are  those  in  this  land  who  are  seeking  the  welfare  of 
the  poor  Indian. 

May  God  direct  and  bless  your  every  effort  in  your  benevolent  undertaking. 

If  it  should  please,  and  be  the  will  of  Almighty  God  that  I  shall  return  to  Metla 
kahtla,  I  do  hope  I  may  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  on  my  way  thither. 
Believe  me,  my  dear  sir,  vours,  very  sincerely  and  gratefully, 

W.  DUNCAN, 
Christian  Missionary  Society  House,  Salisbury  Square,  London. 

For  a  statement  of  the  practical  working  of  the  Indian  law  by  which 
the  nearest  of  kin  is  expected  to  avenge  the  death  of  his  relative  killed, 
I  call  your  attention  to  a  portion  of  the  report  of  Frank  K.  Louthan, 
Appendix  F. 

It  was  in  obedience  to  this  law  that  Leon  Smith,  the  post-trader  at 
Wrangel,  was  killed  by  the  relative  of  Siawan,  the  Indian  shot  by  order 
of  Lieutenant  Loucks. 

It  will  be  seen  by  Mr.  Louthan's  report  that  this  law  was  well  under 
stood  by  all  the  old  traders  in  Alaska. 

Eespectfully  submitted  by,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant. 

VINCENT  COLYER, 
United  States  Special  Indian  Commissioner. 
Hon.  J.  D.  Cox, 

Secretary  of  the  Interior. 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT. 

APPENDIX  A. 
Census  of  tlie  Indian  village  (StiJcine)  at  Wrangel,  Alaska. 


11 


Houses. 

1 

"Women. 

EC 

1 

1 

3 

Houses. 

~ 
o> 

% 

•"Women. 

GO 

1 

1 

3 

First 

7 

5 

4 

*> 

Eighteenth 

5 

5 

3 

3 

4 

4 

1 

1 

Nineteenth  

5 

5 

9, 

9, 

Third 

7 

10 

1 

10 

Twentieth 

4 

7 

7 

1 

Fourth. 

4 

fi 

4 

1 

Twenty-first          

5 

f> 

1 

n 

Fifth 

10 

9 

o 

10 

4 

? 

4 

0 

Sixth 

T 

<t 

4 

0 

Twenty-third                   

fi 

7 

1 

4 

Seventh 

1 

1 

1 

Twenty  -fourth  

5 

8 

1 

0 

Eighth 

fi 

4 

fi 

4 

Twenty-fifth 

8 

10 

3 

7 

Ninth 

f> 

7 

3 

0 

Twenty-sixth  

fi 

q 

7 

4 

Tenth 

<! 

6 

0 

T 

Twenty-seventh 

4 

q 

3 

7 

Eleventh                        .             ... 

"> 

«> 

0 

4 

Twenty-eighth    

4 

3 

1 

9 

Twelfth 

2 

2 

1 

n 

Twenty  -ninth 

7 

10 

9 

0 

Thirteenth 

6 

6 

0 

10 

Thirtieth            

9: 

9 

5 

0 

7 

5 

1 

1 

Thirty-first 

3 

3 

3 

9 

Fifteenth 

0 

0 

1 

1 

Thirty-second 

8 

6 

3 

9 

Sixteenth       

9 

4 

3 

3 

Seventeenth 

R 

10 

1 

1 

Total 

159 

181 

77 

89 

Men 159 

"Women  and  children 349 

Total  . .  . .  508 


APPENDIX  B. 
Report  from  Harry  G.  Williams. 

THE   STIKINE   INDIANS  AT  WRANGEL. 

FORT  WRANGEL,  ALASKA  TERRITORY,  October  30,  1869. 

DEAR  SIR  :  Immediately  after  leaving  you  on  board  the  steamer  Newbern,  I  was 
snugly  stored  away  as  a  guest  of  the  post  surgeon,  in  his  quarters.  H.  M.  Kirke,  acting 
assistant  surgeon  United  States  Army,  gave  me  a  very  interesting  account  of  the  nature, 
customs,  means  of  livelihood,  occupation,  and  also  of  the  diseases  and  manner  of  their 
treatment  among  the  Stikine  Indians. 

Of  their  nature,  he  says,  they  are  very  docile  and  friendly,  ingenious,  and  labor  well 
and  faithfully,  but  by  being  brought  into  contact  with  unprincipled  white  men  are 
soon  found  to  adopt  and  imitate  their  manners  and  ways. 

In  their  customs  they  still  maintain  the  most  of  those  originally  observed  by  their 
nation.  However,  many  of  them  take  great  pride  in  imitating  civilized  ways  of  dress, 
which  in  their  opinion  renders  them  equally  as  good  as  a  white  man.  Their  means  of 
livelihood  are  chiefly  by  salmon  fishing,  which  they  catch  in  immense  numbers,  and  pre 
pare  for  winter  use  by  drying  and  smoking,  after  which  they  are  stored  away  care 
fully.  Many  of  them  use  flour,  but  prefer  hard  bread  and  crackers  when  they  are  able 
to  obtain  them.  They  are  very  fond  of  coffee,  sugar,  and  molasses,  and  like  all  other 
Indians  easily  become  fond  of  ardent  spirits,  to  obtain  which  they  will  sometimes  sac 
rifice  nearly  everything  in  their  possession.  In  this  manner  they  are  imposed  upon  by 
those  who  know  no  principle  or  law,  who  have  been  known  to  sell  them  essence  of 
peppermint,  Stoughtou's  bitters,  and  absinthe,  charging  them  four  dollars  a  bottle, 
(holding  one  pint.)  Absinthe  is  a  compound  which,  if  used  as  a  constant  beverage, 
soon  unseats  the  mind,  produces  insanity,  and  sometimes  death.  Dr.  Kirke  tells  me 
that  he  can  find  none  among  them  who  are  entirely  free  from  the  indications  of  some 
form  of  disease.  A  large  number  of  them  are  more  or  less  inoculated  with  the  different 
forms  of  venereal  diseases,  which,  had  they  proper  protection,  could  be  avoided.  But  I 
regret  to  say  that  men  cannot  be  blamed  for  following  examples  set  by  their  superiors, 
the  consequence  of  which  is  the  Indian  women  become  mere  concubines,  at  the  will  of 
those  whose  duty  it  is  to  try  and  elevate  and  not  degrade  them.  These  women  are 
never  known  to  seek  any  such  degrading  intercourse,  but  permit  it  merely  for  the  pecu 
niary  gain  it  affords  them.  Justice,  honor,  and  manhood  point  the  finger  of  scorn,  and 
cry  shame  to  such.  Men  with  virtuous,  noble  wives  and  children,  even  to  stoop  to 
such  acts  \  Thank  a  kind  heavenly  Master,  there  will  be  a  time  when  such  men  can  be 


12  WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS   TO   BOMBARDMENT. 

seen  in  their  true  character,  and  be  made  to  feel  the  power  of  an  avenging  hand.  I  am 
fully  convinced  that  by  kind  and  careful  teaching  this  great  evil  could  be  remedied 
and  the  Indian  race  again  restored  to  its  former  virtue  and  honor,  and  gradually  be 
come  an  intelligent,  industrious,  and  educated  people. 

THE   STIKINE  RIVER. 

After  remaining  at  Wrangel  one  week  I  procured  an  Indian  guide,  purchased  a  canoe 
and  sufficient  provisous  to  last  three  months,  and  Monday,  at  half  past  one  p.  m.,  Sep 
tember  13,  started  on  a  tour  of  inspection  up  the  Stikine  River,  the  mouth  of  which 
is  about  ten  miles  north  from  Wrangel  Island.  We  reached  main  laud  about  four 
p.  m.,  and  after  luncheon  again  resumed  our  journey,  overtaking  a  number  of  Indians 
during  the  afternoon. 

These  Indians  were  from  Wrangel,  and  on  their  way  to  the  interior,  where  they  go 
every  fall  to  trade  for  the  furs  of  more  distant  tribes.  A  systematic  form  of  exchange 
is  carried  on  from  one  tribe  to  another  until  it  reaches  the  coast  tribes,  thus  bringing 
many  valuable  furs  many  hundred  miles  from  the  interior  of  a  vast  and  unexplored 
country. 

As  we  advanced,  day  after  day,  the  general  appearance  of  the  country  gradually 
assumed  a  better  appearance.  The  scenery  along  the  river  is  far  beyond  my  power  of 
description.  Immense  mountains,  whose  snow-crowned  heads  pierce  the  dome  of  heaven 
in  solemn  and  domestic  grandeur,  rise  in  every  direction. 

COAL,   IRON,   AND   COPPER. 

In  many  places  on  these  mountains  could  be  seen  huge  masses  of  coal,  looking  as  though 
a  little  push  would  set  them  tumbling  down  their  sides.  Iron  and  copper  abound  in  many 
places,  and  gold  can  be  found  in  every  direction,  very  thinly  scattered.  As  yet  no  dis 
coveries  have  been  made  that  would  warrant  a  speedy  acquirement  of  wealth  by  mining, 
but  the  indications  are  very  good  that  at  no  distant  day  very  rich  mines  will  be  found. 
A  strong  party  of  prospecters  left  Victoria  in  May  last,  for  the  purpose  of  exploring  the 
entire  interior  westward,  and  are  daily  expected  to  make  their  appearance  somewhere 
along  the  coast.  Many  are  ready  and  waiting  to  embrace  any  new  discoveries  they  may 
have  made  in  their  long  journey.  As  we  advanced  to  the  interior  we  found  a  greater 
change  in  the  condition  of  the  Indians.  They  being  removed  from  the  coast,  had  no  idea 
of  wrong  or  evil  actions.  They  are  far  more  honest  than  the  same  number  of  white  men 
would  be  under  the  same  circumstances.  You  can  form  an  idea  of  this  from  the  fol 
lowing,  which  I  learned  from  an  eye-witness :  In  1862  a  large  immigration  of  miners  to 
this  coast  was  caused  by  the  discoveries  of  gold  about  two  hundred  miles  up  the  Stikine 
River,  at  a  bar  named  after  the  discoverer,  (Mr.  Chockett,  nicknamed  Buck,)  hence 
the  name  of  "  Buck's  Bar,"  which  was  worked  but  one  or  two  years,  (owing  to  the  diffi 
culty  of  getting  provisions,)  and  then  nearly  all  of  them  returning,  many  left  their 
entire  kits  of  tools  and  working  utensils  and  goods  of  every  variety  ;  some  hung  them 
up  on  trees,  others  stowed  them  away  in  caves  and  niches  in  the  rocks,  and  abandoned 
them.  The  Indians  are  continually  passing  them,  and  have  been  known  to  replace 
them  when  their  fastenings  would  give  way  and  let  them  fall  to  the  ground,  thereby 
showing  not  even  the  existence  of  a  wrong  thought  in  the  minds  of  these  red  men. 
The  only  thing  they  have  ever  been  known  to  appropriate  was  a  few  potatoes  and 
about  five  pounds  of  flour  belonging  to  one  of  the  miners  there,  and  this  they  were 
almost  forced  to  take  from  inability  to  procure  sufficient  food  to  sustain  life.  This  in 
stance  can  be  multiplied  by  many  more  of  the  same  nature,  were  it  necessary.  Fifty 
miles  up  the  river  is  an  abandoned  house,  once  used  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  for 
trading  with  the  Indians. 

THE  GLACIER  OF  THE  STIKINE. 

Opposite  this  place  is  an  immense  glacier,  about  four  miles  long  and  an  unknown 
width,  extending  westward  between  two  large  mountains,  until  it  is  no  longer  discernible. 
It  varies  in  depth  from  one  to  five  or  six  hundred  feet,  commencing  near  the  water  and 
extending  along  its  course.  The  top  is  furrowed  and  cut  by  the  rain  into  every  variety 
of  shape,  only  needing  a  small  addition  to  form  correct  images  of  houses,  towers,  giants, 
caverns,  and  many  other  forms.  Viewed  from  the  east  side  of  the  river,  when  the  sun 
is  shining  full  upon  it,  it  presents  a  most  beautiful  appearance,  its  innumerable  points 
glistening  like  burnished  silver,  and  its  caverns  becoming  more  dark  by  comparison. 
Toward  sunset  the  effect  of  the  day's  sun  causes  it  to  crack,  which  makes  a  deep  rumbling 
noise  that  can  be  heard  for  ten  or  fifteen  and  sometimes  twenty  miles.  Immediately 
opposite  its  center,  across  the  river,  is  a  boiling  spring,  bubbling  up  in  eight  or  ten 
places,  whose  water  is  so  hot  that  it  will  crisp  a  person's  boots  in  a  very  short  time,  as 
many  incautious  persons  can  testify.  It  seems  as  if  nature  must  have  been  on  a  frolic 
during  her  stay  here,  and  becoming  chilled  from  the  glacier,  caine  across  the  river  and 
found  this  warm  stream  in  which  to  sport. 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS   TO    BOMBARDMENT.  13 

Along  the  river  are  four  other  smaller  glaciers,  but,  compared  with  this  one,  they  be 
come  mere  snow-balls.  Seventy-five  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river  is  located  the 
trading  post  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  in  charge  of  their  agent,  Mr.  Chockett, 
known  throughout  the  country  as""  Buck ;"  he  is  esteemed  very  highly  by  the  Indians, 
from  the  fact  that  his  dealings  have  been  uniform,  and  his  promises  always  faithfully 
redeemed,  thus  gaining  a  firm  place  in  their  estimation.  At  the  time  of  my  visit  he 
showed  me  over  eight  hundred  marten,  one  thousand  beaver,  and  a  large  number  of 
many  other  kind  of  furs  ;  this  being  about  the  middle  of  the  trading  season  with  him. 
He  has  been  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  miles  from  there  up  the  river  into  the  inte 
rior  prospecting  for  gold.  Sixty  miles  from  there  you  reach  an  immense  canon,  ninety 
miles  long,  extending  through  the  Coast  or  Chigmet  Mountains.  The  current  in  this 
place  runs  so  rapidly  that  you  can  form  no  idea  of  its  speed.  It  reminds  you  of  a  huge 
gun,  as  you  see  fragments  of  trees  and  logs  fly  along  in  its  angry  foaming  waters.  In 
some  places  the  rocky  sides  gradually  incline  inward,  until  at  a  distance  of  two  or  three 
hundred  feet  above  the  water  they  come  so  close  that  a  good  jump  will  take  you  across 
the  yawning  chasm  below.  In  the  spring,  when  the  ice  breaks  up  in  the  river,  the 
water  rises  from  forty  to  sixty  feet  in  this  canon,  and  you  may  imagine  its  appearance 
then. 

After  crossing  the  mountains,  you  reach  a  beautiful  prairie,  well  watered  and  plenty 
of  fine  timber.  Here  are  found  deer,  bear,  antelope,  mountain  sheep,  beaver,  and  nearly 
every  variety  of  game,  excepting  the  buffalo.  The  gold  continues  about  the  same,  and 
is  found  to  a  small  extent  in  river  bars.  No  quartz  existing  precludes  the  idea  of  any 
large  deposits  in  this  vicinity. 

The  change  in  the  climate  is  more  striking  than  that  of  the  country.  It  is  clear, 
bright,  and  invigorating,  with  but  very  little  rain.  The  atmosphere  is  so  pure  that  you 
can  see  much  further  and  more  distinctly  than  in  any  other  climate.  The  nights  are 
almost  as  bright  as  the  day  ;  so  bright  that  you  can  easily  read  coarse  print.  The  In 
dians  in  this  vicinity  have  almost  an  Eden  to  live  in  ;  game  and  fish  in  endless  num 
ber  seem  to  be  only  waiting  their  will.  These  tribes  make  annual  journeys  overland 
southward,  and  meet  those  coming  from  the  coast,  thus  finding  a  ready  market  for  their 
furs,  for  which  they  obtain  ammunition,  guns,  axes,  buttons,  cloth,  and  tobacco  ;  also 
many  other  small  notions.  But  very  little  liquor  ever  reaches  them,  and  thus  they  es 
cape  the  great  source  of  degradation  and  corruption  which  soon  sweeps  away  nations, 
power,  and  happiness.  I  do  not  wish  my  readers  to  think  that  I  am  a  rigid  temperance 
man,  for  I  ana  not.  I  regard  liquor  the  same  as  any  other  article  of  drink  or  food ;  that 
is,  if  it  is  properly  used,  it  will  not  injure  any  one  ;  but  abused,  it  becomes  a  scourge 
and  lashes  hardest  those  who  embrace  it  most,  degrading  them  even  below  the  brute 
creation.  Its  effect  on  the  Indian  is  much  different  and  more  dangerous  than  on  the 
white  man.  When  an  Indian  becomes  intoxicated,  he  becomes  Avild,  reckless,  and 
cruel,  not  even  hesitating  to  kill  any  one  who  may  meet  his  displeasure.  They 
will  continue  drinking  as  long  as  they  can  procure  liquor,  thus  showing  how  rapid 
would  be  their  course  toward  a  fearful  end. 

At  the  time  of  my  leaving  Philadelphia,  my  opinion  was  like  the  masses  who  had 
never  seen  or  inspected  the  Indian  in  his  own  nativepower  and  country ;  i.  e.,  "that  he 
was  incapable  of  ever  being  civilized  or  becoming  of  any  importance  whatever."  Since 
my  journey  and  inspection  of  the  different  tribes  whom  I  met,  and  observing  the  change 
produced  in  them  by  association  alone,  every  item  of  doubt  regarding  it  is  turned  to  a 
certainty,  that  they  can,  under  honest,  faithful  instruction,  be  advanced  far  beyond  our 
imagination. 

After  running  up  the  Stikine,  I  then  entered  one  of  its  tributaries,  about  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  miles  up,  called  the  Clear  Water  River.  It  was  named  by  a  party  of 
miners,  from  the  fact  of  its  water  being  much  more  clear  than  the  Stikine.  The  Clear 
Water  runs  southeast.  It  is  a  very  rapid  stream  indeed,  and  in  many  places  very  shal 
low.  It  can  be  navigated  with  difficulty  about  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  in  canoes,  where 
rapids  occur  so  frequently  that  no  one  cares  to  risk  life  and  property  by  braving  them. 
Here  the  climate  is  very  fine  and  healthy,  inhabited  by  the  "  Stick"  or  Tree  Indians. 
These  Indians  partake  of  the  same  descriptions  and  traits  as  those  along  the  Stikine. 
We  left  our  canoe  moored  in  a  small  side  stream  in  full  view  of  a  trail  in  constant  use 
by  this  tribe,  and  during  a  week  which  I  spent  in  traveling  from  there  in  every  direc 
tion,  not  a  single  article  was  disturbed  by  them.  I  frequently  met  them,  and  would 
ask  them  in  their  own  language  ("Mika  manick,  mika  canin?")  "Did  you  see  my 
canoe  ?"  They  would  say  ("  Moitka")  "  Yes  ;"  and  on  returning  I  could  see  their  trail 
pass  it,  but  no  indication  of  their  approaching.  I  prospected  in  many  places  for  gold, 
and  found  but  very  little  difference  between  the  deposits  here  and  elsewhere,  with  one 
exception.  About  ten  miles  from  camp,  and  five  miles  up  a  large  creek  (coming  in 
from  the  northeast)  called  Boulder  Creek,  deriving  its  name  from  the  amount  of  large 
boulders  found  along  its  course,  is  a  fall  of  about  five  or  six  feet,  at  the  foot  of  which 
are  some  small  deposits  of  coarse  gold  buried  among  huge  boulders  of  many  tons' 
weight.  It  is  not  in  sufficient  quantities  to  warrant  an  investment  in  mining  tools 


14  WRANGEL,   ALASKA,    PREVIOUS   TO   BOMBARDMENT. 

&c.,  necessary  to  overcome  these  obstacles  and  remunerate  any  one  for  time  and 
trouble. 

Becoming  fully  convinced  that  there  was  nothing  in  this  section  sufficient  to  recom 
pense  me  for  the  sacrifice  of  home  and  its  surroundings,  I  determined  on  returning  to 
them  as  soon  as  possible.  Accordingly,  October  21,  all  things  being  in  readiness,  at 
day-break  I  bid  farewell  to  our  old  camp  and  its  pleasant  surroundings,  headed  the 
canoe  down  stream,  and  began  a  journey  of  nearly  five  thousand  miles  homeward 
bound.  In  the  first  day's  travel  we  run  about  eighty  miles,  encountering  many  dan 
gerous  places,  but  coming  through  them  all  safely.  Many  times,  in  spite  of  our  united 
efforts,  the  current  would  sweep  us  against  its  rocky  boundary,  and  almost  smash  our 
canoe.  Again  in  trying  to  avoid  huge  trees  (left  in  the  river  at  high  water)  we  would 
be  forced  to  head  our  boat  directly  for  them,  and  with  a  silent  prayer  wait  the  result. 
The  «anoe  being  gradually  rounded  from  its  bottom  up  to  a  long  sharp  bow,  and  driven 
ten  or  twelve  miles  an  hour  by  the  strong  current,  would  strike  the  tree  and  seem  to 
leap  out  of  the  water  over  it,  as  if  it  was  running  from  some  fearful  danger. 

The  next  day's  run  we  reached  the  Great  Glacier,  and  camped  in  the  old  house,  re 
maining  there  one  day  to  overhaul  our  goods  and  feast  our  eyes  on  the  beautiful 
scenery.  After  tramping  over  a  large  mountain  and  shooting  some  grouse  and  squirrels 
I  returned  to  camp,  and  next  morning  determined  to  reach  Wrangel  again.  It  was  a 
long  and  hard  pull  of  sixty  miles,  the  river  having  become  much  wider  and  the  current 
ran  from  four  to  six  miles  an  hour.  We  reached  there  about  9  p.  m.  tired  and  hungry, 
and  were  welcomed  back  and  well  entertained.  Our  friends  were  about  sending  a 
canoe  up  after  us,  fearing  that  we  would  not  survive  the  dangers  of  the  return  trip. 
We  were  disappointed  at  not  finding  any  letters  from  home  there  for  us.  Thursday 
night  we  were  awakened  by  the  signal  gun  of  the  Newbern,  and  our  hearts  gave  a 
great  bound  of  joy  at  the  prospect  of  a  speedy  return  to  the  dear  ones  far  away.  If  in 
this  simple,  unpretending  letter  you  find  anything  instructive  or  interesting  I  shall  be 
amply  repaid  for  this  attempt  at  a  description  which,  in  good  hands,  would  fill  a  large 
volume,  every  item  being  of  interest.  As  it  is  I  must  endeavor  to  double  the  "  one 
talent"  given,  that  it  may  be  well  with  me.  For  the  kind  Christian  advice  given  me 
by  you  on  our  way  up  from  San  Francisco  I  thank  you  most  earnestly,  for  through  it 
I  have  been  greatly  benefited.  Although  I  may  never  repay  you,  your  reward  awaits 
you  in  heaven.  May  God's  blessing  ever  rest  on  you  and  your  efforts  is  the  wish  of 

Your  devoted  friend, 

HARRY  G.  WILLIAMS, 

Philadelphia,  Pa. 
VINCENT  COLYER, 

Special  United  States  Indian  Commissioner. 


APPENDIX  C. 

Letter  from  Leon  Smith. 

WRANGEL  ISLAND,  A.  T.,  October  30,  1869. 

DEAR  SIR  :  In  answer  to  your  questions  of  yesterday,  permit  me  to  say  the  number 
of  Indians  at  this  point  is  estimated  to  be  about  500. 

Since  my  arrival  here,  the  1st  of  March,  1869,  1  have  found  them  to  l>e  quiet,  and  seem 
well  disposed  toward  the  whites. 

They  live  on  fish  (smoked  salmon)  and  game,  and  they  provide  themselves  with 
clothing  from  the  furs  they  gather,  either  by  trade  or  trapping. 

Twice  a  year  most  of  the  Indians  make  a  trip  up  the  Stikine  River  to  Talyan,  at 
which  place  the  Stick  tribe  reside,  and  trade  with  them  for  interior  marten,  mink, 
beaver,  bear,  wolverine,  lynx,  land  otter,  and  some  other  skins.  They  take  up  salmon , 
fish  oil,  blankets,  domestics,  red  cloth,  beads,  molasses,  flour,  and  in  fact  every  other 
article  suitable  for  Indian  trade.  They  give  about  ten  yards  of  print  for  one  prime 
marten  ;  three  and  a  half  pounds  of  salmon,  three  gallons  of  molasses,  for  the  same,  and 
for  other  skins  in  proportion. 

The  Stick  tribe  a  very  is  honest  tribe,  and  partial  to  the  whites.  I  will  now  start  from 
this  point  and  go  with  you  to  Talyan,  on  the  North  Fork.  We  leave  here  and  go 
about  seven  miles  to  the  mouth  of  the  Stikine  with,  say,  five  Indians  in  my  canoe. 
The  current  is  rapid  at  all  seasons.  We  reach  the  glacier,  thirty-live  miles  irona  the 
mouth,  in  two  days  ;  from  there  we  proceed  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  post,  two 
miles  above  the  boundary  line  between  Hudson's  Bay  Company  and  Alaska,  a  distance 
of  thirty  miles,  in  two  days — four  days  from  the  mouth.  From  here  we  find  the  cur 
rent  very  rapid,  and  we  tow  our  canoe  along  the  two  banks  ;  we  send  three  of  our  men 
on  shore  to  tow,  and  keep  one  in  the  bow  and  stern.  We-  tug  along  about  ten  miles  a 
day  until  we  reach  Shakesville,  named  after  the  chief  of  the  Stikiue  tribe,  with 


WE  ANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS   TO    BOMBARDMENT  15 

whom  you  are  acquainted.  We  reached  Shakesville  in  about  five  days,  about  fifty  miles 
from  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  being  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles  from  the 
mouth.  From  here  we  tug  along  twelve  miles  to  Buck's  Bar,  at  which  point,  or  in  its 
vicinity,  some  eleven  miners  are  at  work  on  surface  digging.  They  average  about  three 
dollars  a  day,  and  generally  come  to  the  mouth  to  winter.  The  men  do  some  trading 
in  furs.  They  here  find  silver,  copper,  coal,  and  iron,  but,  with  the  exception  of  coal, 
not  in  large  quantities.  The  coal  near  the  North  Fork  is  of  good  quality,  the  vein  being 
some  thirty  feet. .  We  now  leave  Buck's  Bar,  bound  to  Talyan,  a  distance  of  twenty 
miles.  We  work  hard  for  three  days,  and  at  last  make  fast  to  the  banks  at  Talyan. 
We  are  received  kindly  by  the  chief,  Nornuck,  and  by  all  the  tribe,  The  tribe  remain 
away  from  home,  and  at  their  hunting  grounds,  about  six  months  out  of  the  year. 
They  do  their  trading  with  the  Stikines ;  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  sends  goods  up, 
and  in  fact  do  most  all  the  trading.  *  *  *  *  * 

I  spoke  to  you  of  Mr.  Charles  Brown's  farm  and  waterfall.  He  tells  me  that  he  has 
raised  about  fifteen  tons  of  potatoes,  two  tons  of  cabbage,  four  tons  of  turnips,  and  a 
large  quantity  of  beets,  lettuce,  peas,  carrots,  &c.  He  has  a  turnip  weighing  six  pounds. 
Potatoes  average  well ;  some  came  aboard  yesterday. 

The  lake  is-  about  one  mile  wide,  and  two  and  one-half  long ;  the  fall  is  about  forty 
feet,  with  water  enough  to  run  forty  saw-mills.  Mr.  Brown  has  been  living  at  that 
point  about  two  years ;  it  is  about  ten  miles  from  here. 

Out  of  six  pounds  of  seed  Mr.  Brown  tells  me  he  raised  four  hundred  and  fifteen 
pounds  of  potatoes. 

Mr.  Hogan,  a  miner  at  Buck's  Bar  for  two  years,  tells  me  that  the  altitude  of  the 
country  will  not  permit  them  to  raise  vegetables ;  the  country  is  broken,  mountainous, 
and  swampy. 

Of  the  other  tribes  of  the  Territory  I  know  nothing. 

Hoping  you  will  excuse  this  hurriedly  penned  memorandum,  I  am,  sir,  very  respect 
fully,  your  obedient  servant, 

LEON  SMITH. 
Hon.  VINCENT  COLTER, 

Special  Indian  Commissioner. 


APPENDIX  D. 
Letter  from  W.  Wall. 

FORT  WRANGEL,  A.  T.,  November  8,  1869. 

DEAR  SIR:  The  Stikine  Indians  live  at  present  on  a  small  bay  near  the  northern  ex 
tremity  of  Wrangel  Island,  and  within  about  seven  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river 
Stikine.  They  number  altogether  about  three  hundred,  and  are  divided  into  nine 
tribes,  each  tribe  having  a  chief,  and  all  subject  to  one  chief. 

The  present  chief  is  Shakes ;  he  does  not  possess  by  any  means  the  authority  and  in 
fluence  which  his  predecessor  did ;  the  principal  reason  is  he  is  very  poor,  and  another 
is  he  reports  to  the  commanding  officer  all  the  misdeeds  of  the  village.  He  is  well  dis 
posed,  and  his  only  fault  is  his  fondness  for  whisky,  which  is  the  cause  of  his  poverty. 

The  majority  of  these  Indians  are  very  industrious,  and  are  always  anxious  to  get 
employment,  but,  like  all  the  Indians  on  the  coast,  are  passionately  fond  of  whisky. 
Such  is  their  desire  for  it  that  they  will  dispose  of  their  most  valuable  furs  at  a  most 
extraordinary  sacrifice  to  obtain  it.  However,  since  the  country  came  into  the  posses 
sion  of  the  United  States  they  have  not  as  many  opportunities  as  formerly  of  gratifying 
their  passion. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact,  that  the  sale  of  whisky  to  Indians  on  this  coast,  (and  to  the 
interior  Indians  through  these  on  the  coast,)  has  reduced  their  numbers,  caused  petty 
feuds,  idleness,  theft,  and  predisposes  them  to  disease  and  mortality,  reducing  them  to 
the  level  of  the  lowest  brute.  They  are  artful  and  cunning,  and  to  gain  a  point  will  tell 
lies  in  a  most  bare-faced  manner ;  at  the  same  time  they  look  upon  a  respectable  white 
man  as  incapable  of  telling  an  untruth ;  and  if  a  white  man  once  deceives  them  by 
telling  an  untruth,  or  otherwise,  they  look  upon  him  as  below  caste,  and  will  avoid  as 
much  as  possible  all  future  dealings  with  him. 

It  is  also  a  well-known  fact  that  immorality  among  the  Indian  tribes  is  not  so  gen 
eral  as  when  they  associate  with  the  white  population.  Both  male  and  female  seem  to 
suffer  alike  by  the  association,  and  the  natural  consequence  is  quite  evident — disease 
and  a  remarkable  decrease  in  population. 

The  principal  sustenance  of  these  Indians  is  fish,  berries,  fish  oil,  seal  oil,  venison, 
and  mountain  sheep.  Potatoes  and  turnips  they  are  very  fond  of,  and  buy  them  in 
considerable  quantities  from  the  Hydahs,  who  live  further  up,  and  seem  to  understand 
their  cultivation. 


16  WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT. 

The  soil  and  climate  here  are  well  suited  for  the  growth  of  potatoes,  turnips,  cab 
bage,  carrots,  parsnips,  beets,  &c.;  but  both  from  the  want  of  knowledge  and  of  imple 
ments,  the  Indians  never  make  an  earnest  attempt ;  they  simply  cultivate  a  few  pota 
toes  in  a  most  indifferent  manner. 

The  fur-bearing  animals  on  the  coast  are  numerous,  and  good  of  their  kind,  viz : 
bears,  mink,  and  hair  seal ;  and  it  is  strange  how  these  Indians  neglect,  in  a  great 
measure,  this  very  important  source  of  wealth.  I  can  account  for  it  in  this  way:  their 
appliances  for  procuring  the  means  of  subsistence  are  so  indifferent,  and  their  total 
neglect  of  raising  any  A^egetables  leaves  them  in  that  condition  that  they  really  have 
neither  the  time  nor  the  independence  to  go  out  for  a  two  or  three  months'  trapping 
expedition.  However,  there  are  some  exceptions  which  go  to  prove  the  statement 
which  I  make.  I  know  one  Indian  who  last  winter  killed  twelve  large  and  eight  small 
bears,  about  thirty  minks,  and  a  number  of  hair  seals ;  he  had  besides  a  small  patch  of 
potatoes;  this  Indian  had  only  his  wife  to  assist  him.  In  conclusion,  Ihave  no  hesitation 
in  stating,  (after  nearly  three  years'  experience  in  their  means  and  ways,)  that  these  Indians,  if 
properly  instructed,  and  advantage  taken  of  the  resources  of  the  country,  they  might  not  only 
become  comfortable,  but  by  the  sale  of  furs  and  their  other  produce  become  comparatively 
wealthy. 

I  have  much  pleasure  in  offering  you  these  hurried  remarks,  hoping  you  might  find 
them  useful  in  assisting  you  in  the  good  work  you  have  undertaken. 
I  am,  sir,  yours,  most  respectfully. 

W.  WALL. 

Hon.  VINCENT  COLYER, 

United  States  Special  Indian  Commissioner. 


APPENDIX  E. 
Report  from  F.  K.  Louthan  on  the  Indian  tribes  of  Alaska. 

ALASKA,  October  28,  1869. 

DEAR  SIR  :  A  residence  of  nearly  two  years  at  Sitka,  intimately  associated  with  the 
trade  of  the  country,  and  in  daily  communication  with  the  Indians,  has  afforded  me 
some  advantages  for  observing  the  habits  and  wants,  manners  and  customs,  of  these 
people. 

I  need  only  refer  to  the  Sitkas,  whose  history  and  character  afford  an  example 
that  pertains,  in  a  peculiar  degree,  to  all  of  the  tribes  on  our  coast,  from  Fort  Tongas, 
near  our  southern  boundary  line,  to  Copper  River,  away  to  the  northward  and  west 
ward,  about  six  hundred  miles. 

The  village  of  the  Sitkas  consists  of  fifty-six  houses,  well  built  and  comfortable,  ad 
joining  the  town  of  Sitka,  or  New  Archangel,  being  separated  only  by  the  palisade,  a 
rude  defensive  line  of  upright  logs,  placed  by  the  old  Russian  American  Company. 
The  village  contains  a  population  of  about  twelve  hundred  souls  all  told.  They  have 
been,  and  are  now,  governed  by  one  great  chief,  aided  by  sub-chiefs,  all  of  whom  are 
elected  by  the  tribe.  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  give  the  number  of  the  latter,  their 
position  being  neither  arbitrary  nor  perpetual,  as  is  that  of  the  great  chief  or  "  tye." 
They  live  by  fishing  and  hunting,  each  in  their  proper  season,  the  men  devoting  a 
large  portion  of  their  time  trading  with  the  interior  Indians  for  furs,  giving  in  ex 
change  their  dried  salmon  and  halibut,  cotton  goods,  printed  and  plain,  blankets,  guns, 
powder,  balls,  &c. 

They  are  industrious  and  ingenious,  being  able  to  imitate  admirably  almost  anything  placed 
before  them.  Of  thkir  industry,  I  need  only  to  refer  to  the  fact  that  for  the  quartermaster  and 
myself,  in  a  few  days'  notice,  they  supplied,  under  great  disadvantages,  both  of  weather  and  means, 
one  thousand  cords  ofivood,  Russian^  measure,  of  216  cubic  feet  each.  This  large  amount  of 
wood  was  cut  from  one  to  four  miles  away  from  our  town,  and  delivered  and  corded  by  them  as 
well,  if  not  better,  than  would  have  been  done  by  the  same  white  labor  under  similar  disadvan 
tages. 

Our  Indians  are  shrewd  traders,  readily  understanding  prices  and  values,  easily  un 
derstanding  both  our  coins  of  different  denominations,  and  our  "  greenbacks."  They 
are  tractable  and  kind  when  kindly  treated,  but  vindictive  and  exacting  full  compen 
sation  for  wrongs  inflicted,  come  from  what  quarter  they  may.  All  difficulties,  even 
that  of  killing  one  of  their  number,  is  measured  by  an  estimated  value,  "  so  many 
blankets,"  or  the  equivalent  in  money,  or  what  they  may  elect.  The  failure  to 
promptly  pay  for  a  real  or  supposed  injury  is  at  once  the  signal  for  retaliation.  I  can 
but  look  with  great  favor  upon  the  system  on  the  part  of  the  government,  of  adapting 
itself  to  the  one  idea,  immediate  settlement  with  their  people  for  all  wrongs  of  magni 
tude,  (whether  on  the  part  of  the  military  or  the  individual,)  entirely  upon  estimated 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT.  17 

t>tt?U€,  This  is  the  time-honored  custom  of  the  red  man  in  Alaska,  and  pertains  to  all 
alike,  wherever  dispersed  throughout  the  vast  Territory. 

At  present  it  is  more  than  folly  to  attempt  to  induct  him  into  any  other  way  of 
looking  at  a  wrong  or  injury.  Authority,  with  definite  instructions  to  our  rulers, 
whether  civil  or  military,  to  in  this  way  settle  all  disputes,  especially  when  life  has 
been  taken,  will  always  keep  him  (the  Indian)  peaceable  and  friendly,  and  in  the  end 
save  to  the  government  many  notable  lives  and  a  large  expenditure  of  treasure. 

I  art  led  to  these  reflections  by  observing  that  in  this  way  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
and  the  Russian-American  Fur  Company  have,  for  nearly  a  century,  lived  in  compara 
tive  security  among  the  Pacific  coast  Indians,  failing  in  but  few  instances,  a  confidence 
betrayed,  property  taken,  or  life  endangered, 

Again,  my  own*  personal  experience  is  a  powerful  example  of  the  system  of  such  a 
course.  Last  New  Year's  eve  a  difficulty  occurred  at  the  market-house  in  Sitka, 
between  a  Chilkaht  chief  and  a  soldier,"  a  sentinel,  which  resulted  in  the  imprisonment 
in  the  guard-house  of  the  chief,  and  through  some  unaccountable  manner  the  death  by 
shooting,  in  a  day  or  two  afterward,  of  three  Indians.  For  a  full  account  of  these 
early  difficulties  I  refer  you  to  a  report  of  General  J.  C.  Davis,  made  about  that  time. 

Among  the  Indians  killed  was  one  Chilkaht,  one  Kake,  and  one  Sitka.  The  Kakes 
very  promptly  sought  the  usual  remedy,  but,  failing  to  satisfy  themselves,  adopted 
their  extreme  remedy,  "  an  eye  for  an  eye,  a  tooth  for  a  tooth ;"  meeting  two  white 
men  near  their  village,  promptly  dispatched  them,  thereby  lost  all  of  their  village,  burned 
by  order  of  the  general  commanding;  hence  the  so-called  "Kake  war." 

For  nearly  five  mouths  no  coast  or  interior  Indians  appeared  among  us,  to  the  great 
detriment  of  trade,  the  Chilkahts  especially  keeping  themselves  aloof  from  us  all  winter. 
Well  knowing  the  chief  and  most  of  his  people,  I  determined  to  pay  them  a  visit  for 
purpose  of  trade  and  to  restore  friendly  relations.  First,  a  small  schooner  reached 
their  village  in  May  last,  and  found  them  sullen  and  listless,  and  effected  but  little  in 
any  shape  for  several  days.  At  the  end  of  the  fourth  day  our  little  vessel  was  suddenly 
boarded  by  about  seventy-five  well-armed  men,  bent  on  satisfaction  either  in  property 
or  life,  for  the  man  killed  at  Sitka  nearly  five  mouths  previous.  The  exigencies 
of  my  situation  required  prompt  aud  immediate  action.  Asking,  from  our  closed  cabin, 
an  audience,  it  being  granted,  I  stepped  out  among  them  with  my  interpreter,  an  In 
dian,  and  while  protesting  against  their  wish  that  I  should  pay  for  what  had  been 
done  by  our  military  chief  at  Sitka,  satisfied  them  by  giving  them  a  letter  to  the 
general  commanding,  asking  him,  for  the  sake  of  trade  and  security  to  life,  to  pay  for 
the  man  killed,  giving  my  promise  to  the  Indians  to  pay  for  the  dead  man  if  the  gen 
eral  refused. 

The  general  refused  to  listen  to  the  delegation  waiting  on  him  with  my  letter.  I  re 
turned  with  my  vessel  again  to  Sitka  and  to  Chilkaht,  when  I  promptly  paid  the  price 
asked— thirteen  blankets  and  one  coat,  amounting  in  value,  all  told,  to  about  fifty  dol 
lars,  coin.  I  feel  quite  sure  that  in  this  simple  settlement  I  arrested  serious  trouble  to 
myself  and  probably  to  the  government. 

I  made  afterward  a  similar  settlement  with  the  Chilkahts  in  Sitka,  for  one  of  their 
men  killed  by  a  young  man  in  my  employ.  I  can  safely  say  that,  dealt  with  in  this 
way,  there  need  never  be  any  serious  complication  of  Indian  affairs  in  this  Territory. 
Many  irregularities  and  immoralities  exist  among  our  coast  Indians.  Like  their 
brothers  of  the  plains,  they  are  great  lovers  of  whisky,  and  will  barter  their  all  to  get 
it.  They  should  be  prohibited  its  use,  but  how  to  effect  this  is  a  problem  I  am  unable 
to  solve,  unless  the  importation  is  entirely  prohibited.  That  our  Indians  are  suscepti 
ble  of  a  high  standard  of  cultivation  there  can  be  no  possible  doubt.  This  can  only  be 
done  by  the  aid  of  industrial  and  educational  schools.  The  missionary  is  working  to 
good  advantage  at  Vancouver  among  the  Hydahs,  and  at  Fort  Simpson  among  the 
Chemseaus.  In  these  two  tribes  can  be  found  men  and  women  of  high  culture  and  re 
finement,  fit  to  "  grace  almost  any  position  in  life." 

The  Koloshan,  our  own  Indians  from  Tongas  to  the  Copper  River,  are  quite  as  intel 
ligent  and  easy  of  culture,  needing  only  the  same  liberal  system  of  education  to  in  a 
very  short  time,  fully  utilize  them  for  every  purpose  of  government  and  usefulness. 

The  inhospitality  of  the  country,  differing  as  it  does  so  widely  from  the  usual  fields 
of  civilized  men,  must  for  a  long  time  make  the  Indian  the  nucleus  of  population  of 
Alaska;  and  if  so,  how  very  essential  that  he  be  at  once  advanced  through  education 
and  example  to  his  high  destiny. 

While  the  manners  and  customs  are  the  same  of  the  whole  Koloshan  race,  there  is  a 
marked  difference  in  the  wealth  and  condition  of  those  tribes  living  on  the  mainland 
coast  over  that  of  the  islander.  Position,  custom,  and  numbers  have  given  to  the 
former  the  entire  control  of  the  valuable  trade  with  the  interior,  in  some  five  of  the 
great  mainland  tribes,  each  warlike  and  powerful,  and  equally  jealous  of  any  encroach 
ments  on  their  peculiar  privileges. 

Beginning  north  we  have  the  Copper  River  Indians,  variously  estimated  from  three 
to  tour  thousand  strong ;  but  little  is  known  of  thie  people.  They  are,  however  known 
to  be  very  rich  in  furs. 

-&  Ex.  Doc.  68 2 


18  WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT. 

The  early  Russians  told  fabulous  stories  of  tlie  existence  of  both  gold  and  copper  on 
this  river,  which  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  the  Indians  are  at  times  seen  to  use  these 
metals  in  their  ornaments. 

Next  in  order,  south,  are  the  Klahinks,  about  one  thousand  strong.  They  live  in  the 
great  basin  or  park  known  as  Behriug  Bay,  between  Mount  St.  Elias  and  Mount  Fair- 
Weather,  and  have  a  splendid  communication  with  the  interior  by  means  of  two  long, 
fine  rivers  emptying  into  the  bay.  These  Indians  are  gentle,  hospitable,  and  kind,  but 
are  poor,  having  been  neglected  by  the  traders  for  the  last  three  years.  They  are  in 
quick  communication  with  a  splendid  fur-bearing  country,  and  only  require  a  market 
to  develop  splendid  resources. 

Next  in  order  are  the  Hoonid,  or  Cross  Sound  Indians,  two  thousand  strong.  They 
live  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  sound  for  a  distance  of  sixty  miles,  and  are  the  oil  mer 
chants  of  the  coast,  taking  enormously  large  quantities  of  seal,  dog-fish,  and  ulican 
oil,  which  they  barter  to  their  brethren  along  the  coast.  These  oils  are  used  largely  by 
our  Indians  as  an  article  of  food;  it  is  used  by  them  asAve  use  butter. 

At  the  head  of  the  Chatham  Straits,  almost  due  north  from  Sitka,  two  hundred  and 
twenty  miles,  are  the  Chilkahts,  at  least  ten  thousand  strong.  They  are  a  brave  and 
warlike  people,  "  more  sinned  against  than  sinning."  I  have  had  much  to  do  with  them, 
and  ever  found  them  honest,  faithful,  andkind.  Their  villages  extend  from  .the  mouth  to 
a  distance  of  seventy-five  miles  up  the  Chilkaht  River.  Coal  and  iron  abound  in  inex 
haustible  quantities ;  huge  masses  of  iron  can  be  found  among  the  boulders  almost  any 
where  along  the  banks  of  the  noble  stream.  The  Indians  state  the  existence  of  gold  in 
the  mountain  passes  of  the  river.  The  "color"  has  been  found  near  the  mouth.  On 
every  hand  can  be  seen  quartz  cropping  boldly  out  from  a  width  of  from  one  to  twenty 
feet.'  Nothing  is  known  of  its  character  or  value.  These  Indians  are  among  the  richest, 
if  not  the  wealthiest,  of  our  coast  Indians.  Large  quantities  of  the  most  valuable  furs 
are  annually  gathered  and  sold  by  them.  They  are  in  every  wr ay  independent. 

Twenty  miles  north  of  Sitka,  and  east  of  Admiralty  Island  seventy-five  miles,  are  the 
Takoos,  living  at  the  head  of  Takoo  Inlet,  on  the  Takoo  River.  These  Indians  claim  to 
be  richer  in  furs  than  any  of  the  tribes  around  them.  About  the  same  quantity  can  be 
got  here  as  on  the  Chilkaht.  Some  idea  may  be  gathered  of  the  large  trade  at  one 
time  done  with  them  when  I  state  but  a  short  time  ago  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
made  their  trade  lease  from  the  Russian-American  Company's  furs  taken  in  a  single  trip 
of  their  steamer  over  five  thousand  marten  skins,  and  other  valuable  skins  in  proportion. 

The  Takoos  number  about  the  same  as  the  Chilkahts,  and  are  a*proud  and  haughty 
race.  Gold  is  well  known  to  exist  anywhere  along  this  river,  but  the  Indians  have 
steadily  refused  to  permit  any  development.  Coal  is  also  found  here  in  large  quanti 
ties;  indeed  it  is  found  throughout  the  coast  and  islands  of  our  inland  waters.  Of 
salmon  it  would  be  invidious  to  particularize;  they  are  found  in  endless  numbers  any 
where  in  our  fresh-water  streams.  The  largest  and  best  are  found  in  the  Takoo,  Chil 
kaht,  Behriug  Bay.  and  Copper  River,  reaching  an  enormous  size,  many  of  them  \Veigh- 
ing'*seventy  pounds. 

Give  Alaska  a  market  and  she  will  soon  develop  a  second  New  England. 

The  conformation  of  our  mountain  ranges  are  not  unlike  those  of  Washington,  Ore 
gon,  and  California.  They  form  our  coast  and  are  iron-clad — a  greater  portion  of  them, 
iron.  A  distance  of  twenty  or  thirty  miles  will  pass  one  through  this  range,  where  is 
found  an  almost  level  plateau  well  covered  with  timber.  This  plateau  extends  inland 
for  a  distance  of  from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  when  another  chain 
of  mountains  is  reached,  answering  to  what  is  known  as  the  Cascade  Range  in  Oregon, 
or  the  Blue  Range  in  California. 

There  can  be  no  doubt,  from  what  the  Indians  tell  us,  in  this  plateau,  between  the 
two  ranges,  the  prospectors  will  at  no  distant  day  develop  a  field  as  rich  in  the  precious 
minerals  as  any  found  in  the  southward. 
Very  respectfully, 

F.  K.  LOUTHAN. 

Hon.  VINCENT  COLYEK, 

Fort  Hrangel,  A.  T. 


APPENDIX  F. 
Letter  from  Frank  Malwney  on  the  Indians  and  their  trade  in  Eastern  Alaska. 

SITKA,  A.  T. 

SIR  :  In  compliance  with  your  request  I  give  you  my  views  in  relation  to  the 
various  Indian  tribes  of  this  "territory  as  far  as  my  observation  goes.    In  regard  to  the 
population  and  number  of  K:n;e  of  the  tribes  I  have  no  data;  of  others  I  can  speak 
from  observation;  that  is  to  f-ay,  firm  Cook's  Inlet  to  the  southern  boundary. 
From  what  I  can  learn  of  the  extreme  northwest,  in  the  Bchring  Sea  to  the  Straits, 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT.  19 

the  Indians  lead  a  wandering  life,  and  are  variously  designated  as  the  "Koelmnsky," 
"  Onossky,"  u  Cagatsky,"  and  "Colching."  These  tribes  are  estimated  from  four  thou 
sand  to  live  thousand.  During  the  winter  months,  say  from  October  to  April,  they  will 
wander  over  immense  tracts  of  country,  in  bauds  of  from  fifty  to  one  hundred,  sometimes 
undergoing  great  privation ;  and  it  has  been  said  that  they  will  sometimes  sacrifice  one  of 
their  number  to  save  the  rest  from  starvation.  Their  occupation  is  trapping  and  hunt 
ing  the  reindeer.  They  will  travel  during  this  season  of  the  year  from  the  valley  of 
Yukon  to  Copper  River,  stopping  for  short  periods  where  game  and  fnrs  are  plenty. 
They  will  sometimes  touch  the  shores  of  Prince  William  Sound,  Cook  Inlet,  and  also 
the  western  shore,  in  Bearing  Sea.  The  skins  they  collect  are  line  marten,  mink,  silver 
and  black  fox.  The  few  natives  the  writer  has  seen  show  them  to  bo  a  peaceable 
race  and  respectful  to  the  white  man,  looking  upon  him  as  a  superior;  there  is  no 
doubt  but  they  could  be  shaped  into  useful  citizens  in  time. 

To  the  south,  on  the  Aleutian  chain  of  islands  and  on  the  peninsula  of  Unalaska,  are 
the  Aleutes,  a  very  quiet  race,  and  nearly  all  Christians.  Their  number  is  said  to  be 
about  seven  thousand.  Those  living  on  the  islands  are  engaged  in  fur-sealing,  sea- 
otter  hunting,  and  trapping  the  fox,  of  which  there  are  the  silver,  cross,  and  red.  They 
are  found  employed  at  the  different  trading  posts  in  the  Territory. 

The  Indians  o'f  Cook  Inlet  and  adjacent  waters  are  called  "Kanisky."  They  are 
settled  along  the  shore  of  the  inlet  and  on  the  east  shore  of  the  peninsula.  A  very  so 
ciable  race  of  Indians,  their  number  is  from  five  hundred  to  eight  hundred.  During 
the  winter  months  they  leave  the  shores  for  the  purpose  of  hunting  and  trapping, 
when  in  the  spring  they  return  to  their  summer  homes,  dispose  of  their  winter  prod 
ucts  to  traders  for  tea,  sugar,  tobacco,  sheeting,  prints,  clothing,  flour,  hardware,  such 
as  knives,  axes,  hatchets,  &c.  The  spring  and  summer,  till  the  latter  part  of  June,  is 
passed  in  idleness,  when  the  salmon  season  commences,  and  lasts  until  August,  when 
they  dry  large  quantities  of  salmon,  weighing  from  forty  to  one  hundred  pounds  each. 

East  of  Cook  Inlet,  in  Prince  William  Sound,  there  are  but  few  Indians ;  they  are 
called  '•  Nnchusk.'7  There  may  be  about  four  hundred  in  all,  with  some  few  Aleutes. 

Hutchiuson,  Kohl  &  Co.  have  a  post  on  the  south  end  of  Heueiibrooke  Island,  which 
is  the  depot  for  the  furs  that  come  down  the  Copper  River,  although  they  collect  many 
sea-otter,  for  which  the  shore  about  the  mouth  of  Copper  River  and  around  Middleton 
Island  is  famous. 

Every  year,  the  middle  of  June,  three  or  four  large  skin-canoes,  capable  of  carrying 
live  tons  each,  are  sent  up  Copper  River,  loaded  with  trading  goods,  done  up  in  one- 
hundred-pound  packages,  covered  with  water-tight  skins,  so  that  should  accident  hap 
pen,  which  not  unfrequently  occurs,  the  goods  are  portable  to  handle.  It  takes  about 
eighty  days  to  make  the  trip ;  the  canoes  are  hauled  most  of  the  way  on  the  ice,  on 
their  ascent  of  the  river.  On  the  return,  the  winter  collection  of  furs  is  brought 
down,  the  river  then  being  clear  of  ice.  The  magazine  is  about  eighty  miles  up  the  river. 
The  Indians  about  Copper  River  are  called  "  Madiinssky,"  or  Copper  Indians,  and  may 
be  classed  with  the  wandering  tribes.  To  the  east,  along  the  coast,  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  from  the  mouth  of  Copper  River,  we  come  to  Bahring  Bay.  The  most 
northern  of  the  Kolosh  Indians,  of  which  there  are  numerous  tribes,  extending  to  Port 
land  Canal,  all  speak  the  same  language  with  a  little  difference  in  dialect.  They  are  a 
savage  and  piratical  race,  and  as  a  general  thing  are  not  to  be  trusted.  Fear  of  pun 
ishment  for  outrages  keeps  them  in  order. 

I  here  with  add  a  list  of  the  tribes  from  Behring  Bay  to  the  southern  boundary  : 


Residence. 

Xame  of  tribe. 

Xumber. 

Yakntat       

300 

1  200 

Tonkas                

800 

Whinega  

500 

Cross  Sound                                                                             

TVhinej-ia,  (interior).  -- 

800 

Chilkaht  Inlet 

Chilkaht  

2,500 

Chilkaht.  Inlet 

300 

Tukon        

2,000 

Sitka 

1,000 

Admiralty  Island  .  ...                

Hoodsinoo  

1,000 

Knke 

750 

•Yuk 

750 

Of  th.3  Yakut  at  tribe,  they  have  but  few  fnrs  in  the  winter ;  they  do  nothing  in  spring. 
They  trade  and  trap  with  'some  Indians  to  the  south  of  them,  who  live  on  some  small 
streams  that  empty  into  the  ocean.  I  could  get  no  information  from  them  respecting 
their  neighbors,  regarding  their  numbers  and  language.  All  they  said  was  that  they 
were  more  numerous  than  themselves,  and  they  made  good  trade  with  them  for  marten, 
mink,  fox,  bear,  wolverine,  and  lynx,  for  which  they  gave  them,  tobacco,  brown  sheet 
ing,  needles,  thread,  knives,  buttons,  beads,  &c. 


20  WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT. 

The  Yakutats  have  beeu  in  the  habit  of  trading  with  the  Sitkas  and  Chilkahts,  who 
in  the  summer  season  pay  them  visits,  taking  from  Sitka  such  articles  as  dry  goods, 
powder,  shot,  knives,  and  trinkets,  bringing  back  furs. 

The  Whinegas  have  but  few  furs ;  they  are  chiefly  employed  in  hair-seal  fishing,  of 
which  they  get  abundance ;  they  get  in  trade  about  eight  cents  apiece  for  them.  They 
also  get  some  marten,  mink,  fox,  and  bear  from  Cross  Sound. 

We  go  north  to  Chilkaht,  at  the  head  of  the  inlet  so  named,  where  there  is  a  river  on 
whip h  are  three  villages ;  each  village  is  presided  over  by  a  chief. 

The  Chilkahts  are  the  most  numerous  of  all  the  Kolosh  tribes.  They  catch  some  furs 
about  their  own  grounds,  but  the  greater  portion  comes  from  the  interior,  or  where 
they  go  to  trade  twice  a  year,  spring  and  fall.  There  is  no  doubt  but  they  make  a  big- 
profit  on  the  skins  they  bring  down. 

Nothing  is  known  of  these  interior  Indians,  only  what  the  coast  Indians  say,  that 
they  are  called  "  Si-him-e-na,  or  Stick  Indians."  They  will  allow  no  whites  to  pass  tip 
the  rivers.  The  trade  which  the  coast  Indians  take  into  the  interior  consists  of  dry 
goods,  blankets,  tobacco,  powder,  shot,  and  light  flint-lock  muskets,  if  they  can  get  them. 
Although  the  ammunition  and  muskets  are  a  prohibited  trade  in  this  Territory,  still 
the  Indians  get  them  from  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  at  Fort  Simpson.  Steel  traps, 
knives,  hatchets,  needles  and  thread,  and  little  cheap  jewelry,  form  their  principal 
trade,  for  which  they  get  in  exchange,  marten,  mink,  silver,  cross  and  red  fox,  black, 
brown,  and  grizzly  bear,  lynx,  wolverine,  ermine,  beaver,  land  otter,  and  some  inferior 
skins.  The  price  they  give  may  be  represented  thus:  Marten,  50  cents ;  mink,  25  cents; 
lynx,  20  cents;  silver  fox,  $1  25;  cross  and  red  fox,  from  25  cents  to  50  cents;  wolver 
ine,  37|  cents ;  bear,  black,  50  cents  to  $1  50;  bear,  grizzly,  50  cents  to  $1  50;  bear, 
brown,  50  cents ;  beaver,  20  cents  to  40  cents ;  land  otter,  50  cents. 

These  they  exchange  with  the  trader  at  an  advance  of  from  two  hundred  to  four  hun 
dred  per  cent,  for  such  articles  as  they  require.  The  traders'  tariff  may  be  quoted  :  For 
prints  and  sheeting,  25  cents  per  yard ;  tobacco,  $1  50  per  pound ;  molasses,  $1  per  gal 
lon  ;  powder, -$1  50  per  pound;  shot,  50  cents  per  pound  ;  blankets,  (assorted,)  $3  to  §6. 
Steel  traps,  knives,  vermilion,  flour,  hard  bread,  beans,  rice,  and  some  few  articles  in 
the  way  of  clothing,  pants,  shirts,  (cotton  and  woolen,)  blue  cloth  caps  with  glazed 
covers,  shoes,  and  some  minor  articles. 

The  trading  prices  for  skins  are :  Marten,  $2  to  $3  ;  mink,  25  cents  to  $1  50  ;  bear, 
black,  $1  50  to  $3  50 ;  bear,  grizzly,  $1  to  $3  10 ;  bear,  brown,  50  cents  to  $'2  50  ;  fox, 
silver,  $4  ;  fox,  cross,  $1  50  to  $2 ;  fox,  red,  75  cents  to  $1 ;  beaver,  80  cents  to  $1  per 
pound ;  land  otter,  $1  50  to  $2 ;  hair  seal,  8  cents  to  10  cents ;  deer-skins,  15  cents  to  20 
cents. 

The  above  may  answer  for  the  Indians  from  Chilkaht  to  Portland  Inlet.  Of  the  Ta- 
koos,  the  same  may  be  said  as  of  the  Chilkahts  and  tribes  above  Stephen's  Passage. 

On  the  east  of  Admiralty  Island  are  the  Koot-se-noos.  They  have  but  few  furs,  but 
collect  considerable  hair  seal  and  deer-skins.  They  also  raise  quantities  of  potatoes  of 
good  quality  and  fair  size. 

Coming  east  through  Pearl  Straits  to  Sitka  are  the  tribe  of  that  name.  They  are 
employed  in  trading  with  the  other  tribes,  hunting,  and  fishing,  and  are  employed  as 
porters  and  laborers  about  the  town  of  Sitka.  They  also  cut  nearly  all  the  cord-wood 
that  is  used  by  the  citizens.  They  may  be  considered  very  useful  adjuncts  of  the  town 
citizens,  as  they  are  they  chief  purveyors,  supplying  them  with  all  kinds  of  fish  and 
game,  such  as  ducks,  geese,  venison,  grouse,  &c. 

Going  south  around  Baranof  Island,  and  up  through'  a  portion  of  Chatham  Straits, 
we  come  to  the  Rat  tribe  on  Kyro  and  Kespriano  Islands.  They  catch  some  furs,  such 
as  lynx,  bear,  and  hair  seal,  besides  trading  with  some  of  their  neighbors.  Their  tracle 
has  fallen  off  considerably  since  the  occupation  of  the  Territory  by  the  Americans. 
They  formerly  w«ro  in  the  habit  of  getting  their  trading  goods  from  small  crafts  from 
Victoria,  but  at  present  the  Indians  north,  south,  east,  for  two  hundred  miles,  either 
come  to  Sitka  or  get  their  wants  supplied  JTOIH  small  crafts  that  load  or  are  owned  by 
Sitka  merchants. 

Passing  east  and  south  through  Frederick's  Sound,  we  come  to  Wrangel  Island  and 
the  mouth  of  the  Stikine  River,  where  are  the  villages  of  the  Stikine  tribe.  They 
were  some  years  ago  a  numerous  tribe,  but  liquor  and  its  concomitant  vices  materially 
lessened  their  numbers.  They  collect  considerable  marten,  mink,  bear,  and  lynx. 
They  have  formerly  carried  on  considerable  trade  with  the  interior  tribes,  but  since  the 
discovery  of  gold  in  1882,  the  competition  of  the  whites  has  lessened  their  trade. 

The  furs  that  are  collected  in  this  section  are  principally  disposed  of  at  Fort  Wrangel. 

To  the  west  and  south  of  Prince  of  Wales  Island  is  an  off-shoot  of  the  Hydah  or 
Queen  Charlotte  Island  Indians.  They  number  some  three  hundred  and  are  called 
An-e-ga.  They,  it  may  be  said,  are  tho  only  Indians  from  Behring  Bay  to  Portland 
Inlet  that  speak  a  different  language  from  the  rest.  They  raise  considerable  quantities 
of  potatoes,  trap  mink,  bear,  and  beaver.  They  also  go  up  the  Naas  River  in  March 
for  the  collection  of  the  hoolicon  or  candle-fish  oil,  which,  when  pressed,  is  as  well 
flavored  as  leaf  lard. 


WRANGEL,  ALASKA,  PREVIOUS  TO  BOMBARDMENT.      21 

In  Clarence  Straits  and  adjacent  islands  they  are  the  connecting  link  between  the 
Kolosh  race  and  Simpsians  on  the  British  side.  They  speak  the  Kolosh,  Sirnpsian,  and 
Hydah  tongue.  They  catch  considerable  mink,  bear,  beaver,  wolverine,  and  some  sea 
otter.  The  An-e-gas  collect  large  quantities  of  candle-fish  oil  or  grease.  It  is  put  up 
in  tight  cedar  boxes,  from  fifty  to  eighty  pounds,  and  taken  north  as  far  as  Chilkaht, 
and  brings  good  prices  in  furs. 

The  Indians  from  Puget  Sound  to  the  northwest  catch  and  dry  large  quantities  of 
salmon  ;  the  further  north  the  better  the  salmon. 

In  Cook  Inlet  the  salmon  commence  running  in  June  and  deteriorate  in  quality  as 
they  go  south.  July  and  August  are  the  months  about  the  latitude  of  Sitka,  and  grad 
ually  later  as  they  go  south,  so  that  at  Puget  Sound  in  September  and  October  they 
are  the  most  plentiful,  and  not  as  good  flavor. 

Take  the  Indians  of  the  coast  of  the  Territory  they  are  as  well  supplied  with  the 
necessaries  of  life  as  the  aborigines  of  any  country  in  the  world.  The  forests  are  filled 
with  game,  the  waters  with  fish,  and  the  beach  and  rocks  with  clams  and  muscles. 
They  are  a  healthy  and  vigorous  race ;  both  men  and  women  can  back  very  heavy  loads. 
The  men  and  women  are  more  on  an  equality  than  the  Indians  of  Puget  Sound  and 
east  of  the  Cascade  Range.  They  are  steady  and  good  workers  for  a  short  time — say 
one  month — when  they  like  to  knock  off  for  about  the  same  time.  The  writer  thinks 
that  it  would  be  an  impossibility  to  turn  the  Indian  from  his  vagabond  life.  The  change 
to  order,  with  laws  and  schools,  might  last  for  a  short  time,  but  the  novelty  would  wear 
off,  and  they  would  fall  back  into  their  old  ways.  They  soon  pick  up  the  vices,  with 
none  of  the  virtues,  of  the  whites.  It  is  the  opinion  of  the  writer  that  it  would  take  a 
generation  to  shape  them  into  useful  citizens,  although  a  partial  success  has  been 
obtained  by  Mr.  Duncan  a  short  distance  below  Fort  Simpson  with  the  Chimpsians,  and 
still  they  fall  off. 

The  writer  is  not  at  all  prejudiced  against  the  Indians.     Wherever  he  has  come  in 
contact  with  them,  which  has  been  much  in  the  last  sixteen  years,  he  has  endeavored 
to  show  them  the  bad  policy  of  their  predatory  ways;  shows  them  advantages  which 
can  accrue  by  industry,  that  this  may  act  as  a  stimulant. 
Respectfully  yours, 

FRANK  MAHONY. 

Hon.  VINCENT  COLYEK. 

/Special  United  States  Indian  Commissioner. 


APPENDIX  G. 

Medical  Director  Bailey  on  intemperance  and  debauchery. 

SITKA,  ALASKA  TERRITORY,  October  25,  1869. 

MY  DEAR  SIR  :  I  inclose  for  your  information  the  report  of  Acting  Assistant  Surgeon 
John  A.  Tonner,  United  States  Army,  in  medical  charge  of  the  Indians  in  this  vicinity, 
in  conformity  to  instruction's  given  him  by  me.  A  copy  of  the  same  is  inclosed. 

This  report  is  instructive  and  contains  important  suggestions  which,  if  carried  out, 
would  go  far  toward  improving  their  condition. 

I  am  satisfied  that  little  or  nothing  can  be  done  until  they  are  placed  under  better 
and  more  favorable  influences.  A  greater  mistake  could  not  have  been  committed  than 
stationing  troops  in  their  midst.  They  mutually  debauch  each  other,  and  sink  into  that 
degree  of  degradation  in  which  it  is  impossible  to  reach  each  other  ttrough  moral  or 
religious  influences. 

Whisky  has  been  sold  in  the  streets  by  government  officials  at  public  auctions,  and 
examples  of  drunkenness  are  set  before  them  almost  daily,  so  that  in  fact  the  principal 
teaching  they  at  present  are  receiving  is  that  drunkenness  and  debauchery  are  held  by 
us,  not  as  criminal  and  unbecoming  a  Christian  people,  but  as  indications  of  our  ad 
vanced  and  superior  civilization. 

These  Indians  are  a  civil  and  well-behaved  people  ;  they  do  not  want  bayonets  to 
keep  them  in  subjection,  but  they  do  want  honest,  faithful,  and  Christian  workers 
among  them  ;  those  that  will  care  for  them,  teach  and  instruct  them  in  useful  arts,  and 
that  they  are  responsible  beings.  I  look  upon  the  different  military  posts  in  this 
department  as  disastrous  and  destructive  to  their  well-being;  they  are  not,  and  can 
never  be,  of  the  least  possible  use ;  they  are  only  so  many  whisky  fonts,  from  whence 
it  is  spread  over  the  country.  If  we  ever  have  trouble  with  them  and  become  involved 
in  war,  it  will  be  found  to  arise  from  these  causes.  From  the  nature  and  character  of 
the  country,  posts  never  can  render  the  least  influence  or  afford  protection  against  con 
traband  trade ;  this  can  only  be  done  by  armed  vessels,  in  command  of  choice  men. 
To  go  into  detail  on  all  points  would  require  pages;  you  have  seen  enough  to  satisfy 
yourself;  and  in  giving  you  the  inclosed  report  I  only  want  to  add  my  testimony 


22  WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT. 

against  what  I  conceive  to  "be  a  most  grievous  error  in  the  management  of  the  Indian 
affairs  in  this  Territory. 

When  you  go  home  send  us  honest,  faithful,  Christian  workers;  ,not place-seekers,  but 
those  who  want  to  do  good  work  for  Christ's  sake  and  kingdom.  Send  men  and  women, 
for  both  are  wanted. 

When  you  can  do  away  with  the  evils  spoken  of,  and  which  are  so  evident,  and 
adopt  this  latter  course,  then  there  will  be  hope,  and  not  until  then. 
Sincerely  your  friend,  * 

E.  J.  BAILEY, 

Surgeon  U.  S.  A.,  Medical  Director  Department  of  Alaska. 
Hon.  VINCENT  COLYER. 


APPENDIX  H. 

Letter  from  Captain  Edward  G.  Fast  (late  of  the  United  States  Army,}  on  the  character  of 

the  Koloshan  Indians. 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  March  15,  1870. 

DEAR  SIR:  In  response  to  your  letter  of  the  14th  instant,  in  which  you  request  my 
opinion  as  to  the  general  character  of  the  Koloshaiis,  particularly  whether  any  trou 
ble  with  them  may  be  apprehended  by  the  United  States  troops  or  traders,  if  they  arc 
treated  with  ordinary  fairness,  I  have  the  honor  to  state : 

As  to  the  original  character  of  the  Koloshaus  I  can  only  corroborate  the  graphic 
description  of  the  Hon.  Charles  Sunnier,  in  his  speech  on  the  cession  of  Russian  Amer 
ica  to  the  United  States.  It  is  doubtless  familiar  to  you,  and  therefore  I  refrain  from 
going  into  particulars.  But  on  the  other  hand,  the  influence  of  their  intercourse  with 
the  white  man  has  effected  so  great  a  change  of  their  original  character  that  I  must 
necessarily  refer  to1  it. 

Thrown  together  with  the  whites  for  more  than  eighty  years,  the  Koloshaus,  like 
the  aborigines  in  the  western  plains,  have  willingly  adopted  the  vices  of  the  white 
man  and  sacrificed  many  a  virtue  of  their  own.  Their  intercourse  with  the  Russians 
was  of  very  extraordinary  character.  They  were  never  conquered  by  the  Russians ; 
and  in  all  the  inimical  encounters  they  had  with  them  they  were  either  victors  in 
fact,  or  in  a  measure  reaped  the  fruits  of  a  victory  by  receiving  donations  of  blankets 
and  other  necessaries  of  life,  to  effect  a  reconciliation.  So  they  not  only  remained 
entirely  independent,  but  were  brought  to  the  belief  that  the  Russians  feared  them. 
To  this  inconsistent  policy  of  the  Russians  we  have  to  ascribe,  that  when  the  American 
government  took  possession  of  the  country,  we  were  looked  upon  with  distrust  and 
even  suspicion.  The  Koloshans  expected  at  least  the  same  consideration  as  they  had 
enjoyed  with  the  Russians.  In  that  they  found  themselves  deceived.  But  more,  they 
found  that  they  were  deprived  of  sundry  luxuries  with  which  they  had  been  freely 
provided  by  the  Russians ;  a  loss  the  more  keenly  felt  as  they  observed  the  unlicensed 
indulgence  of  the  Americans  in  the  very  articles  withheld  from  them.  In  this  respect 
I  must  principally  refer  to  the  use  of  liquor  which  had  become  a  second  nature  with 
them. 

One  of  the  first  very  necessary  actions  of  the  new  government  was  the  prohibition 
of  liquor  to  the  Koloshans,  but  which  was  enforced  in  a  manner  exceedingly  humilia 
ting  to  them,  and  only  by  cunning  artifices  and  extravagant  offerings  they  were  able 
to  procure  the  much-desired  whisky  from  the  Americans.  Yet  they  had  daily  before 
them  the  revolting  spectacle  of  drunkenness  and  dissipation  publicly  and  shamelessly 
presented  by  the  Americans,  and  even  by  such,  from  whose  official  standing  they  natur 
ally  supposed  the  origin  and  enforcement  of  the  restrictions  imposed.  Who  will  con 
demn  them,  when  they,  having  such  examples  before  their  eyes,  were  filled  with  deadly 
hatred  and  contempt  for  the  Americans,  who,  not  unfrequently,  in  their  drunken  reck 
lessness,  heaped  all  sorts  of  insults  upon  them  ;  and  who  can  wonder  that  these  peo 
ple,  injured  thus  in  their  innermost  feelings,  were  led  to  deeds  of  violence  which  found 
so  bloody  and  summary  retribution  ? 

From  my  personal  experience,  I  know  that  these  people  can  be  managed  by  fair  and 
just  dealing.  I  might  compare  them  to  a  stubborn  and  wayward  boy,  led  astray  by 
evil  example  ;  he  can  only  be  managed  by  persevering  kindness,  but  he  must  know, 
nevertheless,  that  there  is  the  will  and  strength  to  punish  insolent  defiance.  The  Ko 
loshans  must  learn  that  we  do  not  fear  them,  and  then  they  will  respect  us ;  they 
must  be  made  conscious  that  we  do  not  misuse  them,  then  they  will  have  no  opportu 
nity  to  misinterpret  our  doings.  Distrust  is  a  leading  trait  in  their  character,  and  sel 
fishness  the  motive  of  their  actions.  Let  us  be  just  to  them,  and  their  mistrust  will 
vanish,  and  their  selfishness  no  longer  find  an  ailment.  In  the  quiet  possession,  and 
the  development,  of  the  resources  of  Alaska,  we  shall  need  to  fear  nothing  more  than  a 
serious  quarrel  with  the  Koloshans.  Such  a  quarrel  has  already  begun,  and  in  view 


WRANGEL,    ALASKA,    PREVIOUS    TO    BOMBARDMENT.  23 

of  their  martial  spirit,  of  their  vindictive  disposition,  and  persevering  energy,  will 
have  no  other  termination  than  their  complete  extinction,  should  we  not  assume  a 
policy  entirely  different  from  that  hitherto  exercised  toward  them. 

The  relics  I  found  among  the  Koloshans  give  proof  of  a  comparatively  high  civiliza 
tion,  and  admirable  skill  and  steadiness.  By  their  intercourse  with  the  white  man, 
now  they  are  victims  of  rum  and  whisky ;  laziness  and  indolence  have  supplanted  the 
virtues  of  their  forefathers. 

The  Koloshans  differ  very  much,  by  many  distinct  peculiarities,  from  the  aborigines 
in  the  western  plains,  and  possess  qualities  facilitating  an  earnest  and  systematic  effort 
for  their  civilization. 

As  I  have  already  advocated,  on  another  occasion,  our  true  policy  should  be  to  be 
stow  upon  them  the  blessing  of  civilization,  and  to  promote  their  material  welfare  by 
a  peaceful  and  benevolent  management,  not  only  for  the  sake  of  Christian  philanthropy, 
but  also  for  our  own  material  interest,  in  order  that  at  least  their  preservation,  and, 
if  possible,  their  numerical  increase,  may  be  secured. 

The  influence  of  the  climate,  and  the  peculiarity  of  the  soil  of  Southeastern  Alaska, 
are,  with  few  exceptions,  opposed  to  the  introduction  of  agriculture,  the  main  founda 
tion  of  a  new  colony.  All  necessaries  of  life,  which  agriculture  produces,  have  to  be 
imported  from  Victoria,  or  from  American  ports,  and  as  there  are  but  few  points  on 
this  extensive  coast  which  enjoy  a  direct  communication  with  these  parts,  and,  as  it 
happens  not  mifrequently,  particularly  in  winter  time,  that  several  months  pass  before 
a  new  supply  can  be  had,  what  would' become  of  the  settler  if  the  friendly  natives  did 
not  furnish  him  with  game,  which  only  they  know  where  and  how  to  find  ?  And, 
again,  without  his  assistance,  the  capture  of  fur  animals  would  amount  to  very  little, 
and  its  cost  would  be  so  large  that  furs  from  Alaska  could  hardly  he  considered  as  an 
article  of  commerce.  In  one  word,  Alaska,  without  her  natives,  is  worthless. 

May  these  suggestions,  based  upon  incontestable  facts,  and  made  in  good  faith  in  the 
sincerity  of  our  government,  contribute  to  the  adoption  of  a  policy  that  will  be  to  the 
benefit  of  these  people,  ourselves,  and  the  great  cause  of  huinanity*aud  civilization. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be  vour  obedient  servant, 

EDWARD  G.  FAST, 
Laie  Captain  United  States  Army. 

Hon.  VINCENT  COLYEII, 

Secretary  Board  of  Indian  Conmissioners. 


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